getting support

IF YOU OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IS STRUGGLING, AND YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO (BECAUSE WHO EVER KNOWS WHAT TO DO?), IT'S PROBABLY BEST NOT TO JUST SIT AROUND. BELOW YOU'LL FIND ALL THE CONTACT INFORMATION YOU NEED FOR THE VARIOUS SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

HOW DO I KNOW IF SOMEONE HAS A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

SOMETIMES IT'S AS CLEAR AS DAY WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH, BUT OF COURSE, THERE’S NO SIMPLE WAY TO TELL IF THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM. BECAUSE WHY WOULD ANYTHING EVER BE STRAIGHTFORWARD?

SURE, CERTAIN SYMPTOMS MIGHT BE COMMON WITH SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BUT HEAVEN FORBID ANY TWO PEOPLE ACT THE SAME WHEN THEY'RE UNWELL. IF YOU KNOW THE PERSON WELL, YOU MIGHT NOTICE SOME CHANGES IN THEIR BEHAVIOUR OR MOOD. BELOW ARE SOME SIGNS OF COMMON MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

signs of…

  • PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY MAY: HAVE DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING, BE IRRITABLE, TRY TO AVOID CERTAIN SITUATIONS, APPEAR PALE AND TENSE, AND BE EASILY STARTLED BY EVERYDAY SOUNDS.

  • PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPRESSED MAY: HAVE LOW CONFIDENCE, LOSE INTEREST IN ACTIVITIES THEY NORMALLY ENJOY, LOSE THEIR APPETITE, GET TIRED EASILY, BE TEARFUL, NERVOUS OR IRRITABLE. AND AT WORST, THEY MAY FEEL SUICIDAL.

  • Some people experience a severe mental health problem, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. They may have periods when they experience their own or a different reality. They may hear voices, see things no-one else sees, hold unusual beliefs, feel exceptionally self-important or read particular meanings into everyday events.

  • OCD IS A COMMON FORM OF ANXIETY INVOLVING DISTRESSING REPETITIVE THOUGHTS. COMPULSIONS ARE THE ACTIONS WHICH PEOPLE FEEL THEY MUST REPEAT TO FEEL LESS ANXIOUS OR STOP THEIR OBSESSIVE THOUGHTS.

  • SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE DISTRESSED DELIBERATELY HARM THEIR BODIES, USUALLY SECRETLY, USING SELF-HARM AS A WAY OF DEALING WITH INTENSE EMOTIONAL PAIN. THEY MAY CUT, BURN, SCALD OR SCRATCH THEMSELVES, INJURE THEMSELVES, PULL THEIR HAIR, OR SWALLOW POISONOUS SUBSTANCES.

  • PANIC ATTACKS ARE USUALLY A SIGN OF ANXIETY. SOMEONE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN AND INTENSE SENSATION OF FEAR. THEY MAY BREATHE RAPIDLY, SWEAT, FEEL VERY HOT OR COLD, FEEL SICK OR FEEL FAINT.

HOW CAN I HELP?

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEONE, IT'S LIKE BEING HANDED A MAGIC PUZZLE WITH NO INSTRUCTIONS. WHEN YOU ACTUALLY NOTICE THERE'S AN ISSUE, JUST SITTING AND HOPING THEY'LL COME RUNNING TO YOU FOR HELP IS A BRILLIANT WAY TO WASTE TIME. SUPER HELPFUL, RIGHT?

CHAT WITH THEM – BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW THEY’RE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME, OBVIOUSLY YOU’RE A MIND READER. FIND OUT WHAT’S BUGGING THEM AND HOW YOU CAN SWOOP IN TO SAVE THE DAY.

IF IT'S A FAMILY MEMBER OR CLOSE FRIEND, DON'T EXPECT THEM TO WANT TO SPILL THE TEA. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. TALKING TO LOVED ONES CAN BE SO DELIGHTFULLY AWKWARD BECAUSE THEY’RE TERRIFIED OF BREAKING YOUR HEART. SO, KEEP BEING THAT RAY OF SUNSHINE, OPEN, HONEST, AND REMINDING THEM YOU CARE.

need additional help?

OF COURSE, THE FIRST PERSON TO APPROACH IS YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR. HE OR SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE LOWDOWN ON TREATMENT AND, IF YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY, MIGHT EVEN REFER YOU TO ANOTHER LOCAL PROFESSIONAL, however if you are in need of alternative support please look at the services provided below.

organisations and resources

  • THERE ARE SPECIALIST SERVICES GALORE, OFFERING A SMORGASBORD OF TREATMENTS, INCLUDING COUNSELLING AND OTHER TALKING TREATMENTS. THESE DIFFERENT SERVICES ARE USUALLY COORDINATED BY A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH TEAM (CMHT) BASED EITHER AT A HOSPITAL OR A LOCAL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE. BECAUSE WHY HAVE ONE SERVICE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE A TEAM, RIGHT? YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CMHT THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL SERVICES OR SOCIAL WORK TEAM.

  • THE SAMARITANS ARE YOUR 24/7 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, READY TO LEND AN EAR ANYTIME. CALL 116 123 OR EMAIL JO@SAMARITANS.ORG FOR THAT CONFIDENTIAL CHINWAG.

  • MIND IS YOUR GO-TO FOR ALL THINGS MENTAL HEALTH, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON A RANGE OF TOPICS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA. AVAILABLE FROM 9:00 AM TO 6:00 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY. CALL 0300 123 3393 OR EMAIL INFO@MIND.ORG.UK.

  • RETHINK OFFERS SPECIFIC SOLUTION-BASED GUIDANCE. THEY'RE JUST A CALL AWAY AT 0300 500 0927 OR YOU CAN FAX (YES, PEOPLE STILL DO THAT) AT 020 7820 1149. EMAIL THEM AT ADVICE@RETHINK.ORG.

  • ANXIETY UK RUNS A HELPLINE STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS WHO'VE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, AND BOUGHT THE T-SHIRT WHEN IT COMES TO ANXIETY. AVAILABLE FROM 9:30 AM TO 5:30 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY. CALL 08444 775 774.

  • CITIZENS ADVICE PROVIDES FREE, INDEPENDENT, AND CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE FOR A RANGE OF PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES A BIT OF FREE ADVICE.

  • STEP CHANGE OFFERS HELP AND INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE DEALING WITH A RANGE OF DEBT PROBLEMS. FREEPHONE (INCLUDING FROM MOBILES) 0800 138 1111. BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T LIKE A FREE HELPLINE FOR SORTING OUT LIFE'S LITTLE FINANCIAL HICCUPS?