Navigation:
What is Mental Health?
- Mental health is our emotional, behavioral, and psychological well-being. It impacts how we cope with stress, interact with others, and make decisions. Mental health is important at every stage of life, but adolescence can be a time of increased difficulty.
- Many people have difficulties differentiating signs of mental health illness from signs of physical illness. Some of these signs include problems with sleep or appetite, fatigue, and low motivation. If a mental health condition is interpreted as a physical illness, the person will not get the treatment they need, and this can make their symptoms worse.
- What are common signs of different mental health issues?
- Depression/ Self-harm and suicide
- Feelings of sadness, irritability, constant worrying
- Withdrawing from activities
- Lack of energy, tiredness, changes in appetite and sleep
- Problems with work or school
- Substance use
- Vomiting, shaking, slurred speech, injection marks, lack of personal care
- Problems with work or school
- Eating disorders
- Excessive dieting and concern over food
- It is important to check in with your friend if you recognize one or more of these signs, as they may be experiencing a mental health issue.
- Depression/ Self-harm and suicide
- What are common warning signs of suicide?
- If someone talks about killing themselves, feeling hopeless, etc.
- Increase in drug or alcohol use
- Isolation from friends and family
- Withdrawing from participation in activities
- Saying goodbye
- Giving away possessions
- It is important to intervene immediately if you notice that your friend is showing one or more of the suicide warning signs listed above.