Mental Health

CARING FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Emotional psychological, and social wellness all impact overall mental health. A person’s mental health influences how they think and feel, as well as the choices they make and their relationships with others. Taking care of our mental health is just as important as what we do to stay physically healthy. Check out some of these resources to help make caring for your mental health part of your daily routine:

  • Building Better Mental Health (HelpGuide)
  • Care For Your Health (Mental Health America)
  • How to Take Care of Your Mental Health (The Jed Foundation)
  • Ten Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health

MENTAL ILLNESS

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, or behavior. Conditions may be occasional or chronic and affect someone’s ability to function across all facets of daily living.      Each year in the United States, 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness and 1 in youth ages 6-17 experience a mental health disorder. Signs and symptoms of a mental health condition include:
  • Excessive feelings of sadness, worry, fear, anger, and/or guilt
  • Inability to carry out daily routines or cope with daily stress
  • Loss of focus and concentration
  • Lack of energy and motivation
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Major changes in eating and/or sleeping habits
  • Unexplained physical ailments such as headaches and stomachaches
  • Withdrawal from loved ones
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Avoidance of social situations
  • Difficulty understanding and relating to others
  • Extreme mood changes with uncontrollable highs and low
  • Prolonged periods of irritability or anger
  • Problems with drug or alcohol use
  • Paranoia, hallucinations or delusions
  • Suicidal thoughts
Explore the resources below to learn about different types of mental illnesses: Anxiety Disorders Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Bipolar Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Depression Dissociative Disorders Eating Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Early Psychosis and Psychosis Schizoaffective Disorder Schizophrenia

Treatment & Support

For those seeking treatment for a mental health condition, there are several helpful starting points including your primary care physician, phone helplines, or SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator where you can search for treatment providers by location. You may also contact thedapc@gmail.com to request a referral.

It is important to remember that there is no “one size fits all” approach for treating a mental health disorder. With a variety of treatment options available, it is best to work with a health care provider to come up with an individualized treatment plan based on the individual, their diagnosis, and the goals for treatment. You can learn more about the different treatment options here.

*If you or someone you know is in need of immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 9-1-1.*