If you have mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior may be affected throughout your life. Many factors contribute to mental health issues, such as: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry; Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse and; Family history of mental health problems.
Many people experience mental health issues from time to time. When ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and impair your ability to function, a mental health concern becomes a mental illness.
Positive mental health allows people to:
- Realize their full potential
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Work productively
- Make meaningful contributions to their communities
14 signs to watch out
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and usual activities
- Having low or no energy
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Having unexplained aches and pains
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
- Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
- Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
- Thinking of harming yourself or others
- Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Source: Safety4Sea