It’s important to Open Up about Mental Health

What causes mental health problems?

These can be caused by various factors:

• Biology, such as when your brain chemicals change.
• Life events, such as if you experience trauma, loss or abuse.
• Previous family history of these kind of mental health problems.

 The first signs of mental illness usually occur in the teenage years and/or a person’s early 20s.

What are warning signs someone is experiencing mental health problems?

• CHANGE IN SLEEPING/EATING PATTERNS: The person might be unable to sleep properly or be sleeping too much. They might stop eating enough or be bingeing and eating too much.
• ISOLATING THEMSELVES: The person no longer wants to be with other people most of the time. They might stop taking part in activities they once enjoyed.
• FEELING NUMB OR DEPRESSED: The person might feel like they cannot find meaning in life. They might feel that they have lost hope in everything.
• MOOD SWINGS: The persons’ mood might be changing in an uncontrollable way. They might show extreme confusion, anger, fear, upset or aggression.
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE: The person might be smoking and drinking more than usual; they might have also started taking drugs
• UNABLE TO COPE WITH DAILY LIFE: The person can no longer function with daily routines such as hygiene, work or school schedules.
• LOW ENERGY: The person is likely to feel that they do not have the emotional or physical strength to do many things.
• THOUGHTS OF HARMING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS; SUICIDAL THOUGHTS: The person is unable to stop thinking about hurting themselves or others. They might even be thinking of killing themselves – or have even made attempts to do so.
• STRANGE HALLUCINATIONS OR BELIEFS: The person might believe they are hearing voices, or are convinced that things which are not true, are reality. They might have strange ideas or memories in their head that keep repeating and about which they cannot stop thinking or talking.

What kind of help is there for mental health problems?

Although people often fear they will be judged for having mental health problems, this is a mistake.

Just like you would go to a doctor, if you broke your leg, or would take medicine to help you if you were diabetic, so too must you take care of your mental health.

There is a lot of help available: from speaking to a professional counsellor, social worker or psychologist; going on medication or changing some of your daily routines.

Remember that Legal&Tax Services is your companion throughout life. 

With Legal&Tax you’re not alone. 

If you are worried that you or someone you care about is struggling with their mental health, our Trauma Assist benefit can help. Speak to one of our caring consultants who will be able to offer expert advice for the way forward towards healing.