Recognizing Mental Health Red Flags in Your Loved One

Mental Health America indicates that the adult prevalence of any mental illness (AMI) in the United States in 2022 was 19.86% (50 million people), and another 4.91% were experiencing severe mental illness.

Many of those people, though, didn’t seek out or receive a medical diagnosis or treatment for their condition. Some, no doubt, didn’t recognize the signs of a mental health condition in their loved one, and others didn’t seek help due to embarrassment or stigma.

At Sidhu Psychiatric in Palm Harbor, Florida, our board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu NP-C, PMHNP-BC, understands that there are impediments to people receiving help for mental health conditions, but believes that getting a diagnosis and proper treatment can be a game-changer in people’s lives.

Since many people don’t know what to look for to determine if their loved one potentially has a mental illness, Kavi takes the time here to explain some of the main red flags.

Identifying red flags

Major mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, rarely emerge fully fledged. Most often, family members, friends, teachers, or even the people themselves recognize small changes taking place or have a feeling that “something isn’t quite right” long before the illness emerges unequivocally.

Learning about the early warning signs of mental disorders and taking action when you see them can help ensure prompt treatment. And early intervention can help reduce the illness’ severity and interruptions in quality of life and functionality.

It’s also important to know that many signs appear early in a person’s life. Fifty percent of mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

If you notice one or two of the following list of symptoms, it may be nothing, but if several occur together or within a short time of each other, you should follow up with a mental health professional.

Sleep or appetite changes: dramatic changes or decline in personal care
Mood changes: rapid or dramatic emotional shifts, depressed feelings, greater irritability
Withdrawal: loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
Drop in functioning: at school, work, or in social activities, such as quitting sports, failing classes, or difficulty performing familiar tasks
Problems thinking: poor concentration, memory, or impairment of logical thought and speech
Increased sensitivity: to sights, sounds, smells, or touch; avoidance of overstimulating situations
Apathy: loss of initiative or desire to participate in activities
Feeling disconnected: vague impression of being disconnected from oneself or surroundings; a sense of unreality
Illogical thinking: unusual or exaggerated beliefs about personal powers to understand intentions or influence events; “magical” thinking typical of children in an adult
Nervousness: fear or suspicion around others
Unusual behavior: uncharacteristic or otherwise peculiar behavior
Changes in school or work: absenteeism, worsening performance, difficulties relating to peers and co-workers

If you notice your loved one has suicidal thoughts or intent, or thoughts of harming others, call 911.

What should I do if I notice red flags?

Even if a person doesn’t yet show clear signs of a diagnosable mental illness, these “red flags” serve as a warning sign and should be taken seriously. Early intervention can often minimize symptoms or even delay their development, prevent hospitalization, and improve your loved one’s prognosis.

Encourage the person to:

Learn about mental illness, including the signs and symptoms you’ve noticed
Get an assessment by a mental health or other health care professional
Receive supportive counseling about activities of daily living and strategies for stress management
Be monitored closely for conditions that require more intensive care
Put aside any stigma associated with mental health, as it poses a significant barrier to getting needed help

At Sidhu Psychiatric, we provide comprehensive treatment for mental health conditions tailored to each individual. We work to prevent early symptoms from progressing into serious illness through ongoing individual and family counseling, vocational and educational support, participation in problem-solving groups, and medication, when appropriate.

We also value family members as partners in the journey, and we include their help and support whenever possible. Learning about how their loved one’s mental illness might develop and what can be done to help benefits everyone involved.

If you’ve noticed mental health red flags in a loved one, don’t delay. Contact Sidhu Psychiatric to get an assessment of the condition and a treatment plan put in place. To get started, call our office at 727-382-1383 or contact us online today.