South Sound Behavioral Hospital offers FREE Assessments 24/7, call us toll-free at
Understanding Mental Health:
An Overview of Warning Signs & Wellness Tips
Understanding mental health & how it impacts your day-to-day life is important. While others may see your physical health & well-being, your mental state and condition can only be felt by you. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. It is important to be aware of these potential changes and to seek professional help in instances where it’s needed. Seeking mental health treatment is a sign of strength, and it shows that you are willing to be honest with yourself that things might not be okay at the moment, and that is okay.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Family history of mental health problems
Mental health problems are common but help is available to those in need. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely from their disorder. Our staff will work with you or your loved one to ensure they have an ally in overcoming their struggles.
Early Warning Signs of a Mental Health Disorder
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a mental health disorder:
• 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 confused, forgetful, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks
The Importance of Mental Health and Wellness
Positive mental health allows people to:
• Realize their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities
Ways to maintain positive mental health include:
- Getting professional help if you need it
• Connecting with others
• Staying positive
• Getting physically active
• Helping others
• Getting enough sleep
• Developing coping skills
South Sound Behavioral Hospital is a behavioral health hospital that provides both inpatient care & outpatient services to those in need of help. If you or a loved one is struggling with their mental health, please call us at (844) 949-8888 or come in for a free mental health assessment.