Asking For Help
Sometimes things are too much for us to manage on our own, and we need to seek help. Asking for help is possibly one of the most difficult things to do, especially when you're struggling to cope.
You may feel that having problems with your mental health or asking for help are signs of weakness, or that people will see you differently. But it may be useful to remember that mental health problems are extremely common. In the UK 1 in 5 people have asthma, and you probably have friends who have asthma but you don't think of them any differently because of it. However, 1 in 4 people in the UK have a mental health problem at any one time, and some research has found that the rate is even higher in young adults, with around half of all young adults experiencing mental health problems at some point each year, so mental health problems are actually more common than asthma!
That said, stigma surrounding mental health problems does still exist, mainly because people don't understand. If you broke your wrist you would know it was broken not just from the pain, but because it would look damaged, and a doctor would put a cast on it which you and everyone else could see. But when it is your mind that is damaged there is nothing to see from the outside, so other people will probably not notice that anything is wrong until you tell them. Even if they do notice, perhaps from a change in your behaviour, they may think you are just 'a moody teenager' or they may even feel scared. Because of this, it is even more important that you pay close attention to your mental health, and that you know when to seek help.
By recognising and getting help with mental health problems early on, you can 'nip them in the bud', so to speak, and stop them from getting worse or from becoming long-term problems which can continue for many years if they are left untreated.
It may help to have some idea of where to go for help and what to expect:
If you are a student at a School, College or University, then it may be that there is a member of staff who you feel able to confide in. Most educational institutions offer some form of support for students experiencing any level of mental health problems, and they will also be able to point you in the right direction if you need another type of help.
Most organisations have resources in place to support their employees, so if you are working you could speak to your manager about what support is offered to staff experiencing mental health problems.
Talking to your employer or educational institution also means that they can offer practical support if you are struggling with your work.
Your GP is also a good person to talk to about mental health problems. They can offer practical advice which is tailored to your individual situation. If it is appropriate, they can also prescribe medications which may help you to manage your symptoms. No medication is a 'magic pill that can make everything better', and it is important to remember that, but medications can sometimes help you to manage certain symptoms so that you can function a bit more like your normal self, allowing you to make use of self-help techniques, counselling, or psychological therapies. Your GP can refer you for counselling or Psychology which can help you to develop the skills to maintain your mental health in the future.
Your local Mental Health Service will usually have an Early Intervention Team who you can talk to about Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder. You can either look them up on your local NHS website or your GP surgery should be able to give you their contact details.
