Symptoms of poor mental health
Although mental health conditions have strict criteria and require specialist training to diagnose, there are several warning signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health. [1][2] These can be early signs of a disorder, or a signal that someone is experiencing a period of poor mental health without an underlying condition. In either case, it’s important to seek support if you notice any of the following symptoms.
- A significant increase in the use of drugs or alcohol.
- Major changes in personality, sleep, mood, weight, sexual activity, and general behavior.
- Significant difficulty sitting still or focusing.
- Feelings of worry, hopelessness, helplessness, or guilt that prevent you from completing daily activities.
- Experiencing sudden, extreme fear with no known cause that may be associated with physical distress, such as a racing heart rate or rapid breathing.
- Hearing, seeing, or believing things that others do not or that are not real.
- Attempting to harm yourself or end your life.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Taking significant risks that cause or stand to cause harm to yourself or others.
- A noticeable decline in academic or work performance.
- Multiple physical complaints (nausea, muscle tension, generalized aches and pains, etc.) with no known source.
- Experiencing significant feelings of sadness or withdrawing from loved ones for more than two weeks.
When to seek help
It is important to know when to seek professional help for mental health concerns. If you are feeling down or simply different for a couple of days but soon return to feeling well, this typically isn’t a cause for concern. However, if the above symptoms last for two weeks or more, this may be an indication that it’s time to seek help.
Another sign that mental health changes are serious is if you don’t feel reassured after reaching out to trusted individuals. [2] You may also wish to seek help if your usual coping strategies and self-care techniques are no longer helping.
Suicidal ideation
If you are feeling suicidal, having recurring thoughts of death, or are making a plan to take your life, seek help immediately. Suicidal feelings are an emergency, and you should call 911 if you are in any danger.
If there is no immediate risk, call the suicide and crisis hotline at 988.[3] These lines are open 24/7. 988 allows you to speak with individuals who can connect you with mental health emergency services and other resources. If you are not comfortable using the above hotline or do not have access to a phone, you can use their free Lifeline Chat. You can also reach out to others (your mental health provider, doctor, a trusted loved one, or close spiritual leader) about suicidal thoughts. It’s important to seek help and manage these feelings for your well-being.[3]
If you are concerned about someone close to you being at risk of taking their own life, you may be worried that talking about it could make the situation worse. Studies show that this isn’t the case and that asking about suicidal thoughts and feelings can be helpful.[4]
Causes of mental health conditions
Mental health conditions typically result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors.[1/5] If someone has genetic risk factors for a particular disorder, they may or may not develop that disorder, depending on other aspects of their lives. Environmental and genetic factors can affect people in different ways, leading to periodic mental health concerns or lasting mental illness.
Risk factors that can affect mental health
Many risk factors can increase a person’s chances of developing a mental health condition, including:[5]
- Lacking access to healthcare or financial resources.
- Having underlying medical conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes, or cancer.
- Experiencing abuse or neglect as a child.
- Permanently losing a parent (due to adoption, divorce, or death) at a young age.
- Being separated from your parents at a young age.
- Being raised by a parent who has a prolonged or severe illness.
- Having close blood relatives with a history of mental illness.
- Experiencing stressful life circumstances.
- Sustaining brain damage due to an accident.
- Witnessing or being part of traumatic events such as frontline military combat, assault, violent criminal activity, etc.
- Regularly or heavily using alcohol or recreational drugs.
- Lacking healthy, supportive relationships with peers.
- Having a prior history of mental illness.
Therapy for mental health
There is a range of therapies that individuals may participate in to assist with improving their mental health and managing symptoms of mental health conditions. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy or talking therapy) is one of the main treatments for individuals with mental health conditions. There are various forms of psychotherapy, including: [5][6][7]
Behavioral therapy
This helps someone explore learned behaviors that may have led them to develop harmful habits or unhealthy coping skills. One type of behavioral therapy is Behavioral Activation, which is usually recommended for individuals with depression. However, other forms of behavioral talk therapy can be used for individuals who have impulse control disorders, OCD, and more.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
These therapies allow someone to identify harmful behavioral patterns and replace them with more supportive behaviors. CBT can be applied to a wide range of disorders, and there are specific types of CBT specialized for treating individuals with specific conditions, such as insomnia or eating disorders. Other forms of CBT include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).
Creative arts therapy
These therapies involve expressive arts such as music, drawing, theater, painting, dance, and more. Professionals pair these activities with a discussion about the emotions that arise. Creative arts therapies can be effective for many mental health conditions, but may not suit everyone.
Dialectical therapy
Dialectical therapies assist with emotion regulation, management of self-injurious behaviors, and strengthening relationships. The most common type is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is the gold standard treatment for individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
EMDR allows the brain to reprocess past traumatic events that may still be causing someone distress. This modality is frequently recommended for people with PTSD.
Guided self-help therapy
This form of talk therapy has roots in CBT, but emphasizes independence in the therapy process. Guided self-help can be a suitable treatment for anxiety disorders such as panic disorder and OCD, along with some forms of depression.
Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) therapy
Psychodynamic therapy explores underlying emotions and past events that may be causing someone difficulty in the present. One of the most well-known forms of psychodynamic therapy is Interpersonal Therapy, which focuses on improving relationships.
Medications for mental health
Mental health medications are also often recommended alongside talk therapies. Evidence shows that a combination of medication and talk therapy leads to the best outcomes for many mental health conditions. Some medications can be used to treat multiple diagnoses, just as more than one medication may be needed to properly manage a person’s symptoms: [1][6][8]
- Antidepressants: These help individuals with low mood and may be used to treat major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, PTSD, OCD, GAD, bipolar disorder, and some eating disorders. Some common prescriptions in this category include bupropion (Wellbutrin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
- Antipsychotics: These help manage symptoms of psychotic conditions. Antipsychotics are most commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, but may also be used to treat severe mood disorders, severe anxiety, and psychotic symptoms associated with other conditions such as dementia. Some common prescriptions in this category include haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), quetiapine (Seroquel), lurasidone (Latuda), risperidone (Risperdal), and olanzapine (Zyprexa).
- Soporifics (Sleep aids): These medications help manage insomnia and other sleep disorders. Soporifics (also called sleeping pills)may be prescribed to assist with insomnia, periodic stress, and sleep schedule changes. Common soporifics include eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien), clonazepam (Klonopin), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Sedatives: Sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, are most often used to manage panic disorders, severe anxiety, and sometimes insomnia. Since they are habit-forming, benzodiazepines should only be used on a short-term basis. Some notable benzodiazepines include clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Mood stabilizers: Mood stabilizers help balance someone’s mood if they tend to experience emotional highs and lows. Their primary use is for mood disorders, but they may also be used to address schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia when used alongside antipsychotics. Some common mood stabilizers include lamotrigine (Lamictal), lithium (Camcolit), and valproic acid (Depakote).
- Anticonvulsants: Anticonvulsants are traditionally used to reduce seizures in those who have epilepsy. They may also be prescribed to manage drastic mood swings, impulsivity, and aggression, making them a good fit for people with severe depression, bipolar disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Lamictal and Depakote also serve as anticonvulsants.
- Stimulants: Stimulants are commonly recommended to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Some common stimulants include Dextroamphetamine (Adderall), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), and Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse).
Caring for your mental health
There are many ways to nurture your mental health, regardless of whether or not you have a mental health condition. These include basic lifestyle habits such as eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, regular exercise, and prioritizing sleep. In addition, building a healthy mindset is important. [3] This could include recognizing things you are grateful for, participating in relaxing activities, and focusing on positive thoughts and actions. Setting goals may help you stay consistent with some of these behaviors, as can support from trusted loved ones.
Although these activities are beneficial for your mental health, they aren’t a substitute for professional care when necessary. When it comes to physical health, having a good diet and getting plenty of exercise doesn’t prevent you from breaking your arm, and it doesn’t mean you should expect to work through it by yourself. The same is true of mental health. If you’re struggling with any aspect of your mental health, especially if this lasts for more than a few weeks, it’s important to seek support from a mental health professional.
Author
Brittany FerriBrittany Ferri holds a PhD in Integrative Mental Health and is an occupational therapist, health writer, medical reviewer, and book author.
Activity History - Last updated: March 26, 2026, Published date: March 26, 2026
Reviewer
Natalie has worked closely with trauma victims and survivors of domestic violence to help rebuild a sense of safety and confidence.
Activity History - Medically reviewed on March 31, 2026 and last checked on March 26, 2026
