Unlike physical illness, mental health problems can be difficult to diagnose. While the spectrum of mental illness is vast, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, the common characteristic is that they all affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.
Signs and Symptoms
What To Look Out For
Changes In Sleep Patterns
Struggling to sleep or sleeping
more than usual
Drop in Functioning
A sudden and unusual drop
in usual activities
Lethargy
Significant tiredness and low energy
Substance Use
An increase in smoking, drinking
or drug use
Extreme Sadness
Often feeling sad and alone
Mood Swings
Rapid or dramatic shifts in
emotional state
Withdrawal
Wanting to be alone and uninterested
in social activities
Appetite Changes
Eating more or less than usual
Confused Thinking
Problems concentrating or
remembering things
Nervous Behaviour
Feeling nervous and suspicious
of others
Increased Sensitivity
Heightened sensitivity to sound,
smell or touch
Feeling Disconnected
A feeling of not being part of
your surroundings
Increased Anger
Getting unusually angry or violent
Random Aches and Pains
Experiencing unexplained
physical ailments
Thinking of Harming Themselves
Non-suicidal self-injury
or suicidal thoughts