Recognizing Warning Signs of Mental Illness

Mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia often appears with warning signs long before before it’s full form.  Family, friends, and colleagues often recognize something abnormal about the individuals behavior, thinking, and feelings. Knowledge of signs and symptoms of mental illness that results in early intervention can help reduce the severity of mental illness and possibly delay
or prevent a major mental illness from progressing.

If you, or someone you care about is experiencing emotional or mental problems, professional help should be sought.

• Marked personality change
• Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• Strange or grandiose ideas
• Excessive anxiety
• Prolonged depression and apathy
• Marked change in eating or sleeping patterns
• Thinking or talking about suicide or harm to oneself
• Extreme mood swings, high or low
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs
• Excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior