Know the Five Signs

I’d like to tell you about a new national mental health campaign supported by the American Psychological Association and endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama called “The Campaign to Change Direction.” (www.changedirection.org) This campaign seeks to make the way we talk about mental health issues in this country as commonplace as the way we talk about physical ones.  With almost one in every five Americans (that’s about 42.5 million people) having a diagnosable mental health issue, it’s imperative that we stand together and help people get the support they need. The campaign has identified 5 signs that may indicate that people need help. They are:

1. A change in personality
2. An increase in anger, anxiety or moodiness
3. A tendency to isolate or withdraw from activities
4. A decrease in personals elf-care or an increase in risky behavior
5. An increase of hopelessness and feeling totally overwhelmed

If you recognize these signs in yourself or in another, talk about it. Let’s all work to educate to ourselves and our loved ones about these signs and encourage discussion and treatment when these signs appear.  For more information, go to www.changedirection.org.

Until next time,

Dr. Sheila