Mental illness flag

With recent mass shootings that have grabbed headlines, evaluating one's mental health is a topic that has frequently been discussed in the news. As a psychologist, I've been asked frequently about red flags or warning signs that may contribute to violent or aggressive behavior. For the most part, dozens of interpersonal red flags can be summarized by two alarms: change and disclosure of information. While change isn't always a bad thing, it is almost always a little frightening. Change in sleeping habits -- sleep is the canary in the mine, so to speak -- weight, energy, mood, or attention require careful consideration, and often times, a bit of sleuthing to determine the cause. Those changes might signal affective distress or impending physical illness and nearly always respond to treatment. For persons with emerging thought disorders or very serious mental illnesses, the capacity to recognize change is impaired, making them more vulnerable to disease progression and making the input and intervention of others that much more important. Most mental illnesses are defined by significant and enduring (e.g. two weeks or more) change. As before, here we mean change in affect, interest, mood or cognition (e.g. memory, attention, etc.). The more obvious (and alarming) changes are in self-care or hygiene. A person who loses the ability or motivation to maintain their basic hygiene needs emergent professional attention/evaluation. The other red flag, then, is self-report/disclosure...

Order NAMI’s Book Order NAMI’s first book, “You Are Not Alone,” today! Written by NAMI Chief Medical Officer Ken Duckworth, this is an essential resource for individuals and families seeking expert guidance on diagnosis, treatment and recovery. All royalties from the book benefit NAMI and our mission. NAMI started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 and has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an alliance of more than 600 local Affiliates and 49 State Organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.

Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person's ability to function. Mental health disorders in children are generally defined as delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions. These problems are distressing to children and disrupt their ability to function well at home, in school or in other social situations. It can be difficult to understand mental health disorders in children because normal childhood development is a process that involves change. Additionally, the symptoms of a disorder may differ depending on a child's age, and children may not be able to explain how they feel or why they are behaving a certain way. Mental health disorders in children — or developmental disorders that are addressed by mental health professionals — may include the following: • Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders in children are persistent fears, worries or anxiety that disrupt their ability to participate in play, school or typical age-appropriate social situations. Diagnoses include social anxiety, generalized anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Compared with most children of the same age, children with ADHD have difficulty with attention, impulsive behaviors, hypera...

About Mental Illness • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand • expand Trying to tell the difference between what expected behaviors are and what might be the signs of a mental illness isn't always easy. There's no easy test that can let someone know if there is mental illness or if actions and thoughts might be ...

Learn about Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness More than Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness can be subtle or it can be obvious—but no matter the magnitude, it can lead to harm. People with mental illness are marginalized and discriminated against in various ways, but understanding what that looks like and how to address and eradicate it can help. The Facts on Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. A review of Researchers identify different types of stigma: (See chart below.) • Public stigma involves the negative or discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental illness. • Self-stigma refers to the negative attitudes, including internalized shame, that people with mental illness have about their own condition. • Institutional stigma, is more systemic, involving policies of government and private organizations that intentionally or unintentionally limit opportunities for people with mental illness. Examples include lower funding for mental illness research or fewer mental health services relative to other health care. Stigma not only directly affects individuals with mental illness but also the loved ones who support them, often including their family members. Stigma around mental illness especially an issue in some diverse racial and ethnic com...

Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function. A mental illness can make you miserable and can cause problems in your daily life, such as at school or work or in relationships. In most cases, symptoms can be managed with a combination of medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy). Symptoms Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Examples of signs and symptoms include: • Feeling sad or down • Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate • Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt • Extreme mood changes of highs and lows • Withdrawal from friends and activities • Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping • Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations • Inability to cope with daily problems or stress • Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people • Problems with alcohol or drug use • Major changes in eating habits • Sex drive changes • Excessive anger, hostility or violence • Suicidal thinking Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains. When to see a doctor If you have any signs or symptoms of a mental il...