How to spot early warning signs of mental illness

Early intervention for any kind of illness is always recommended to ensure that it is checked on time to prevent further serious, irreversible damage. Mental health disorders never appear out of the blue.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, 50% of the cases begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Seeing as how a majority of mental illnesses largely affect younger people, noticing the early warning signs becomes even more important for the chances of reversing, controlling and preventing the illness altogether.

What to look for

An important thing to understand about mental health in the first place is that many of the symptoms that are listed as signs of a particular disorder or disease may be faced by many of us. Many of our workplaces and family structures could be high-pressure situations for us and hence we may experience stress, low self-esteem, and other distress symptoms. However, this does not always mean we may be suffering from or have to potential to develop a mental illness.

• Lack of sleep: A drastic change in sleep patterns or appetite and a general decline in personal care.

• Mood changes: Dramatic shifts in moods range from being utterly sad to being really happy.

• Reduced or loss of functioning at work: A sudden drop in performance at work or school, failing grades, etc.

• Social withdrawal and apathy: Loss of interest in any kind of activity, including social interactions that were previously enjoyed.

• Reduced cognitive function: Lack of concentration, poor memory, speech and logical thought of no apparent cause.

Spotting one or two symptoms may not mean anything serious. However, experiencing these symptoms ourselves or noticing them in others can be equally disruptive and distressing. Noticing these signs should alert you to seek help from your family physician or mental health professional for further diagnosis.

People having suicidal thoughts may need immediate attention. Each treatment is individualized since different people could experience a different combination of symptoms. Treatment could include not just individual therapy but family and marital counseling as well. The support of the family and peers in these cases becomes extremely important.

The stigma around mental illnesses is one of the major barriers to seeking treatment. At the same time, making reductive statements such as “you’re being bipolar” or “you’re being paranoid”, etc., to refer to someone in distress also causes immense harm to the person’s mental well-being whether or not they may be diagnosed with a mental health disorder.

It is important to learn about mental illness by reading up more about it and also seeking professional help if you have to care for someone suffering from a mental health disorder.