Six Signs Your Loved One Needs Help

We may not always know when we need mental health care, especially if we’re used to powering through. Friends and loved ones don’t always open up about their mental health, making it hard to know if someone’s change in behavior is a sign of mental health issues or something else. You can feel helpless deciding when or if they need help.

With mental health conditions like depression and anxiety on the rise, it’s more important than ever to be on the lookout for early warning signs.

Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:

1. Pulling away, not returning phone calls, repeatedly canceling plans or not showing up for social activities — This can be especially concerning if your loved one was once very socially active.
2. Acting sad, withdrawn or indifferent for at least two weeks — Take note of constant crying or tiredness or an “I just don’t care about anything” attitude.
3. Drastic changes to sleeping habits — This could mean sleeping excessively or not much at all.
4. Sudden panic, paranoia, or overwhelming fear — Such feelings could be a sign of an anxiety disorder, especially if they come on for no apparent reason and are getting in the way of everyday activities.
5. Drastic changes to eating habits, including eating too much or not enough — Also, watch out for behaviors that could indicate an eating disorder, like binging, purging or using laxatives.
6. Changes to personal habits — This could include changes in hygiene, a sudden, drastic haircut, or other noticeable changes.

More severe cases include self-harm, threatening to hurt or kill themselves or others or making plans to give away personal items. These are apparent signs of distress. In those cases, it’s important to get help right away. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Remember your loved ones who have TRS-ActiveCare coverage have the same mental health benefits as you.