Understanding Mental Health: Recognizing Common Signs & Symptoms

There is no single definition of mental health, and what is considered mental illness can vary from culture to culture. However, some common signs of mental illness include:

* Changes in mood, behavior, or thinking that are not typical for the person. This can include feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks, having difficulty sleeping or eating, feeling irritable or angry all the time, having racing thoughts or difficulty concentrating, or having delusions (false beliefs) or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).

* Difficulty functioning in everyday life. This can include having difficulty going to work or school, taking care of yourself or your family, or maintaining relationships.

* A history of mental illness. This can increase the risk of developing mental illness again.

If you are concerned that someone you know may be experiencing mental illness, it is important to encourage them to seek professional help. A mental health professional can evaluate the person and provide treatment if needed.