Getting prompt, effective help for your mental health can be challenging.
People may be afraid or ashamed of admitting they have problems with their mental health.
People may feel that no one will understand their problems or that nothing can be done to help.
People may have a bad experience seeking help for their mental health and be reluctant to open up again.
Everyone is different, so even when help is available, it might not be suitable for the person needing help or their problem.
Waiting times for help and treatment are often too long, leaving people without the help they need when they need it.
Here are a few common signs: but remember, experiencing one or more of the following does not mean that you have a mental health problem.
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Withdrawing from other people, including friends
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Feelings or expressions of hopelessness
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Feelings or expressions of intense sadness, despair or emotional numbness
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A lack of energy that makes everyday tasks seem difficult or impossible
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Feelings or expressions of self-hatred Feelings or expressions of guilt
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Insomnia
Common Signs ...
What’s the problem?
In an Emergency
If you do not think you can help and you think a person needs professional help for their problem, it is important to:
Remain calm Listen to what the person is saying If the person cannot seek professional help themselves, contact another source of help for them
Remember that the help you can offer, though important, is limited.
Many people need a combination of different types of help for their mental health problem In urgent cases, call the person’s GP, take them to Accident & Emergency or call 999
SAMH is the Scottish Association for Mental Health. SAMH operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland.
It’s as important to look after our mental health as it is to look after our physical health.
Mental health problems can affect the way you think, feel and behave. Some mental health problems are described using words that are in everyday use, for example, ‘depression’ and ‘anxiety’.
This can make them seem easier to understand, but can also mean people underestimate how serious they can be.
A mental health problem feels just as bad, or worse, than any other illness – only you cannot see it. Although mental health problems are very common – affecting one in four people in Scotland – there is still stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems, as well as many myths about what different diagnoses mean.
What is SAMH?
Getting the help you need can be difficult 75% of people say they would go to their GP to get help for their mental health. However, people can struggle to talk to their GP about their mental health problems and may need a variety of types of help to support their mental health. We need to ensure that people know how to talk to their GPs about their mental health and that other forms of help are available to everyone.
SAMH offers a multitude of services to help those who need it.
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Community Engagement
They support people living with mental health problems towards recovery and engagement in the wider community.
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Homelessness
They provide preventative work and practical support to individuals who are homeless or at risk.
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Addictions
SAMH helps people in their recovery from addiction.
Active Living
They champion active living as a vehicle for improving and maintaining good mental
health and wellbeing.
Suicide prevention
SAMH works to prevent suicide through interventions and training.
Supported Accommodation
SAMH provides emotional and practical support to people on a daily basis including living skills to help them keep their home.
Mental Health Outreach
Provides housing support and outreach to people in their own homes where staff support people to develop, regain and maintain independent living skills.
SAMH's services are person-centred and based on an ethos of recovery. For details of their
local services get in touch on 0141 530 1000, available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
How can they help me?
Listen to your inner voice, small steps lead to bigger things
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"Sometimes, I find it hard to get out of bed in the mornings, it feels like a battle as soon as I've opened my eyes"
Positivity and you is a useful site with lots of advice and support to help you try and boost those positive feelings
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SAMH