Recognizing the Signs: Supporting Mental Health in Ourselves and Others
By Julie Taylor-Costello, PhD
Community Outreach and Training Coordinator
Lutheran Family Services
Signs! They are more than just billboards on the side of the road.
Did you know that people can have signs too?
Mental health is a worldwide concern, and one way to tell if someone could be working through a mental health challenge could be by the signs and symptoms they possess.
Recognizing the Signs of Mental Health Issues
Signs that people show are just like the signs we may see driving down the road. The signs we see in people help us recognize what could be happening. Signs in people are behaviors and actions that we can observe that may not be typical.
Signs could be:
- Not dressing in their usual style.
- Frequently arriving late or not attending work or events at all.
- Crying or becoming withdrawn.
- Reacting with more aggression or irritability than they typically would in a given situation.
- Participating less in activities they once enjoyed.
Recognizing and Responding to Emotional Signs: The Importance of Connection
Symptoms are a little harder to spot – symptoms are feelings and thoughts a person may have that are not “normal” for them. We often see the signs in people, which may cause us to ask how they are doing. Hopefully, if they are up for it, they let us know – they express their feelings and thoughts. Feelings of sadness, worry, anger, nervousness, fear, or hopelessness (just to name a few).
Thoughts could be thinking that they are not good enough, they don’t matter to others, they only bring frustration to others, or even thoughts of suicide.
Sometimes, we see the signs and wonder what might be going on with a person. When we ask them, we find out they haven’t been sleeping, felt like themselves, or had no self-worth. Sometimes, we see the signs, and we ask the person how they are doing, and they share that they have had some “stuff” going on lately – their car is having a few issues, the vacation they planned has to be postponed, or they just got a new video game and have been spending late nights playing with friends.
All signs are worth noticing. All people are worth getting to know a little more and asking how they are doing – and then sticking around for their response. Regardless of what is happening in their lives, having one person ask, listen without judgment, and offer support is one of the best ways to help a person through a tough time – no matter how big or small.
Recognizing the Need for Help: When to Reach Out
You’re moving. You ask your friends for help.
You’re painting a room. You ask your family for help.
You’re stranded on the side of the road. You call for help.
You’re struggling with the loss of a loved one – you decide to work through it on your own.
You lost your job – you decide to self-medicate.
Things have just been really tough lately with work, family, and friends, and you don’t feel like yourself lately – you withdraw and hope someone notices.
Asking for help in some situations is a no-brainer. Asking for help in other conditions can make those situations seem even worse.
Most people would instead try to work through life or mental health issues on their own – suffer in silence. But did you know that having one trusted, caring, nonjudgmental individual in our lives could lead to recovery much sooner? It is our turn to be that individual!
How do you become that individual, you ask?
- Take time to recognize signs and symptoms in others that may not be “normal” for that person.
- Find a way to start the conversation in a supportive way. “Why are you so crabby lately?” is probably not a great way to start that conversation. “Hey, I have missed you at lunch lately. Is everything okay?” might be a better way to help the other person open up.
- Listen without judgment – no matter what the person has going on, recognize that it is something that they are trying to work through, and even if you don’t understand or agree, be there for them. Ask questions, put your phone down, and truly be there for them.
- Offer support and let them know that even though it may be an icky situation right now, you will listen to them and try to help them. It may look different in the end, but encourage them that they can get through this.
- Share ideas of professional resources or self-care strategies that may help them through their situation.
Taking on this role can be scary and even uncomfortable at times. However, if we can jump in with a truck, a paintbrush, or a ride, why can’t we also jump in with a listening ear, some words of support, and maybe even some resources to help someone through a tough life situation?
LFS is Your Resource for Mental Health First Aid Training
Lutheran Family Services can be that resource for you. We offer Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA). MHFA is an early intervention public education program. It teaches adults how to recognize the signs and symptoms that suggest a potential mental health challenge, how to listen nonjudgmentally and give reassurance to a person who may be experiencing a mental health challenge, and how to refer a person to appropriate professional support and services.
