General Mental Health When It Is Time to Talk to Someone About Your Mental Health
It may be time to talk to someone about your mental health when distress is persistent, hard to manage alone, affecting daily life, or making you feel unsafe. Support can start with a trusted person, therapist, doctor, helpline, or crisis resource depending on urgency.
Key takeaways
- You do not need to be in crisis to ask for support.
- Changes in sleep, mood, relationships, functioning, or safety are important signals.
- A trusted person can be a first step, but professional care may be needed.
- Immediate danger requires immediate support.
Signs it is worth talking
Consider reaching out if you feel unlike yourself, are withdrawing, sleeping poorly, feeling overwhelmed, using substances to cope, losing interest, or struggling to function.
Who to talk to first
Depending on the situation, you might start with a trusted friend, family member, therapist, doctor, school counselor, employee assistance program, or helpline.
When it is urgent
If you may hurt yourself or someone else, feel unable to stay safe, or are in immediate danger, call emergency services or a crisis line such as 988 in the U. S.