Getting Help for Mental Illness

Getting help for mental illness is not always easy. Mental illness has carried a stigma with it for decades. People will say that mentally ill people are just crazy and should be put in a hospital. The other myths are that it is a rare illness or the person is just weak. This is not true, in fact, one out of three people are diagnosed with some type of mental illness sometime in their life. Some ways to recognize if you possibly have an illness and need to seek treatment include suicidal thoughts, feelings of overwhelming emotions such as anger or despair, drinking too much, doing drugs, and questionable health.

If you feel you need immediate help don’t hesitate to dial your local emergency assistance. You can also go to the local hospital emergency room for assistance. Your local phone book is a great resource to also find help if you need some advice or someone to talk to. Many local communities have a crisis hot line you can call or a referral agency that can point you to someone that can talk with you.

You can also see your family physician so they can do a complete physical and make sure that you are not just imagining things. Your doctor is also a great resource in referring you to a mental health clinic or psychiatrist if needed. Another great way to get help for mental illness is a local support group or self-help group. It is always helpful to be around people that share similar experiences.