Signs of mental illness: How to spot them and offer help

When someone you love is hurting and possibly showing signs of mental illness, it’s natural to be concerned. But it can be difficult to known when – and how – to help.

That’s why mental health awareness is so important. It can help you to know the warning signs and the appropriate actions to take.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five American adults (about 23%) live with some kind of mental illness. The severity of these illnesses ranges from mild to moderate to severe and includes several types of mental health disorders, such as:

• Adjustment disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Behavior disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Eating disorders
• Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, etc.)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Schizophrenia

When to be concerned

Dominique Dietz, director of Virtual Behavioral Health at OSF HealthCare, says that identifying signs of mental illness isn’t as simple as spotting a specific symptom or behavior.

“Instead, look for a larger pattern of escalating behavior that involves other red flags,” Dominique said. “You need to know a person’s typical behavior and if they’re acting differently than you would normally expect.”

For instance, we all experience stress, sadness and many different emotions, and we express them in different ways. What might be a healthy form of expression for one person could be a warning sign for someone else.

Consider a person who makes a drastic change to their appearance.

One person might dye their hair green for fun while continuing to function in their daily life in essentially the same way. But someone who drastically changes their appearance while exhibiting other irregular behavior, like not showing up for work or school, could be experiencing some sort of mental or emotional distress.

Types of red flags

Sometimes, the early symptoms of mental illness and emotional struggle can be subtle. Other times, they might be drastic. Most behaviors that are considered mental health red flags will fall into one of three categories:

• Physical functioning: Are they sleeping too much or not enough? Have their eating patterns changed? Have their energy patterns changed, such as a person who is typically energetic acting lethargic or someone who exercises regularly seeming fatigued?
• Emotional functioning: Is the person exhibiting unusual mood changes, such as acting more irritable? Do they appear to be more easily frustrated? Are they crying more often?
• Cognitive functioning: Are there changes in the way a person is interpreting or internalizing events? Are they having illogical responses to things that they would normally handle logically?

Behaviors that should warrant an immediate response include:

• Increased substance use (drugs or alcohol)
• Not getting out of bed for days at a time
• Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of hurting someone else

Approaching the conversation

When you recognize someone might be struggling, the next step is to offer them help. Bringing up the subject can be scary, but being honest and compassionate will help you get started.

“People are usually nervous in these situations because they don’t know how to help a loved one with mental health issues, such as depression, OCD, anxiety or whatever the case may be. They’re not even sure how to bring up the topic,” Dominique said. “The best way to approach these situations is to be direct. It may be hard, but it’s worth it. Ask your loved one, ‘Do you need help? And if so, let me help you get the help you need.'”

Giving someone the space to open up and share their experiences is an important part of recovery. Because of the stigma of mental health disorders, people sometimes feel ashamed or reluctant to admit they may be struggling.

When having this type of conversation, try to avoid phrases like:

• “You’re fine.”
• You’re going to be OK.”
• “Can’t you just…”

“What they need from you is to know you are there for them, listening and wanting to help,” Dominique said. “You can then work together to address the problem.”

Seeking help

Several types of mental health care and resources are available for people dealing with signs and symptoms of mental illness, but it’s important to choose the right one.

OSF OnCall offers three FREE services:

• Behavioral health navigators: Behavioral health navigators offer adults a single point of contact who can help them understand the type of care they need (therapy, support groups, etc.) and the best way to access it. The mental health issues and areas of concern this program addresses are:
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Drug and alcohol use
  • Problems with work and school
  • Relationship issues
• Resource Link: Available through OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Resource Link is similar to the behavioral health navigator program but is intended for children and teens up to 17 years of age.
• SilverCloud: SilverCloud is a secure and anonymous online platform that helps adults manage the feelings and causes of mild to moderate anxiety, depression and stress. Available as a free app, this program consists of various interactive modules to be completed over an eight- to 10-week period, and it’s proven to be just as effective as in-person therapy.