If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, harming yourself or harming others, we encourage you to call 911 or call or text 988 for immediate assistance.
Key takeaways:
- A mental health condition like anxiety or depression can affect anyone, and about one in five US adults experiences one in a given year.
- Common warning signs include changes in mood, sleep, appetite, energy and lack of interest in things you used to enjoy.
- Everyone feels anxious or sad sometimes. It is worth talking to someone when those feelings are persistent, overwhelming or getting in the way of daily life.
- A primary care doctor is a fine place to start, and your plan's behavioral health team can help you find care.
Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. A mental health condition can affect anyone regardless of age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity or gender.
The numbers are staggering. The National Alliance of Mental Illness reports more than 61 million Americans experience a mental health condition every year—that’s about one in five adults. This demand for services has brought to light just how important it is that individuals and communities have improved access to quality mental health care.
Mental health affects everything. It is an essential part of our overall health, impacting how we think, feel and act. When something feels out of whack, it can disrupt your day-to-day routine and well-being.
Mental disorders include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and many others. The two most common mental health illnesses are depression, affecting more than 21 million Americans in a year, and anxiety disorders, which impact about 1 in 5 Americans. There is no single cause for mental illness—genetics, environment and lifestyle can all play a role.
Unlike physical illnesses, mental illnesses have often been ignored or undertreated. Due to unfair stigma and historical bias, they haven’t been as widely accepted as a serious medical issue.
It’s important to remember that everyone will experience anxiety and sadness at some moment in their life. However, when that anxiety and sadness is overwhelming and occurs regularly, a mental health condition may be the cause. If you're worried, seek help. You don’t have to live with the symptoms; there are resources available to feel better.
While every mental illness is different, here are seven common signs you or a loved one should be evaluated for a mental health condition:
1. Change in feelings or demeanor
With a mental health condition, increased feelings of worry, panic, sadness or hopelessness are common. On their own and happening occasionally, these feelings can be normal. But when they come on quickly, last for days or negatively affect the ability to function normally, they may be a sign of poor mental health. If these feelings persist – or are combined with thoughts of harming yourself or others – seek help from a medical professional right away.
2. Loss of interest
A person experiencing a mental health issue may start avoiding friends, family and activities that they once enjoyed. They may suddenly perform poorly at work or in school, or struggle to keep up with normal responsibilities like cleaning, cooking, or taking care of children or pets.
3. Change in sleeping habits
Sleeping patterns that change dramatically can be a sign of anxiety, depression or other mental illnesses. When an early riser suddenly sleeps until noon daily, or a regular 10 p.m. bedtime becomes 3 a.m. without reason or explanation, it can be cause for concern. And while sleep changes are often a sign of mental illness, they can also worsen them. People living with insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, are 10 to 17 times more likely to experience depression.
4. Low energy
A person with a mental health condition might show signs of low energy, regardless of the amount of sleep they get. Those signs might be staying in bed for most of the day, avoiding movement, neglecting self-care, missing normal activities or work.
5. Difficulty interacting
Many people with a mental health condition can find it hard to understand or relate to others, or that others don’t understand them. People experiencing difficulty interacting may seem extremely irritable, cancel plans, avoid social activities or settings where a lot of people are present.
6. Appetite or weight changes
Dietary changes can be an indicator that someone is experiencing a mental health issue. If you notice a drastic change in weight, excessive eating, decreased appetite or food restriction – especially without an apparent cause or that persists for days – it may be time to consult a professional.
7. Uncontrollable emotions
Changes in mood can be normal — stress, fatigue and even hunger can make us more susceptible to them. But a distinct, rapid mood swing from one extreme emotion to another may be an indicator of mental health struggles. Intense mood changes that happen often or last for days are particularly concerning. If mood swings are coupled with thoughts of suicide, self-harm or hurting others, seek professional help immediately by calling 911 or calling or texting 988.
When to seek help
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? If any of the above signs come on quickly, last for long periods, or impact you or a loved one’s ability to function normally, the best thing to do is to ask for help. There are several mental health treatment options, depending on your needs and goals.
A family doctor or mental health clinic can provide options to help you get started. You can see significant improvement with treatment, taking control of your symptoms and in many cases, returning to normal function.
Behavioral help resources
Here are some options to explore if you need help:
Emergency mental health resources. If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health distress, particularly if it includes thoughts of suicide, self-harm or harming others, emergency help is here. Call 911 or call or text 988 for immediate support.
- Your health benefits provider. Check with your health plan to see which resources are available. For example, Priority Health provides members with information – including the kinds of help available, what your plan will cover and how to find counselors or behavioral health care providers to meet your needs. It offers an on-staff behavioral health team available for confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Priority Health has also partnered with a digital health specialist to offer free access to Teladoc Health Mental Health, formerly called myStrength, a self-help mental wellness tool with a variety of focus areas (including but not limited to depression, anxiety, stress and substance use disorders). Learn more here, then call the number on the back of your member ID card or log in to your online account to access these resources.
- Disaster distress helpline. A national hotline providing immediate counseling for those experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster is available 24/7, 365-days a year. This multilingual confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Online or virtual care. Try an online therapy session with a licensed mental health professional. Many health benefits plans cover telehealth or virtual care in addition to in-person therapy and appointments.