Introduction:
Joyce notices that her coworker Marcus (the normally bubbly Team Leader) has become more introverted in team meetings, has told fewer jokes, and has forced smiles. When Joyce inquired about how things were going, she was given the reply of “I’m just stressed” with a voice indicating he was very tired. Three months later, Marcus had taken a leave of absence due to significant depression. This led Joyce to think whether earlier help could have been provided if Marcus’s warning signs had been recognised.
This type of situation occurs daily in homes and workplaces, and communities around the world. Mental Health issues are rarely obvious at first glance; they come up over time by way of small behavioural changes and differences in interaction with others or through mood changes, daily function changes, etc. Most often, the difference between early intervention and the eventual full-blown mental health crisis is simply a matter of recognising warning signs as they arise and addressing them accordingly.
- Why Early Detection Changes Everything
Mental health can be viewed similarly to physical health. For example, one does not wait for a complete heart attack before finding treatment for discomfort in the chest. The same cannot be said for emotional distress. Continuous emotional distress experienced until someone reaches their emotional limit, is an unfortunate occurrence for many today. Although early intervention offers considerable benefits, it can also significantly alter the lives of the affected individual(s).
Studies have indicated that individuals who received attention, assistance or direction early in their mental health difficulties had a quicker recovery from their mental health condition, fewer negative symptoms and continued to experience a better quality of life than those who did not receive assistance during this time.
Given adequate resources and timely support, the human brain is extremely resilient. Intervening with anxiety, before its progress into disability; depression, before its establishment in the individual; or stress, before the onset of additional medical problems, can literally redirect the course of a person’s life.
- The Signs That Speak Volumes
The way that a person expresses their own struggles with Mental Health differs among individuals; however, many patterns continue to show up time after time. By learning some of these patterns, we can identify indicators that something is very wrong with ourselves or with others we care about.
- Change in Sleep Pattern(s): Changes in the quality and/or frequency of our Sleep patterns usually indicate that our Mental Health is in trouble. Examples of changes in sleep patterns consist of being unable to get to sleep for weeks (Insomnia), sleeping too long (more than 12 -14 hours per day) and/or completely reversing a person’s sleep cycle. If a normally good sleeper suddenly becomes unable to sleep, or someone who is typically energetic begins to need to sleep constantly, be on alert.
- Withdraw from Social Networks: Humans are social by nature; when an individual withdraws from social activities, either by cancelling plans repeatedly or by failing to return phone/text messages, it is worth a follow-up. The withdrawal usually occurs due to feelings of inability, being overwhelmed and/or feeling like they would be a burden to other people.
- Mood Swings/Irritability: We all have bad days, but chronic irritability or extremely abrupt mood shifts (that are not reflective of a current life situation) may indicate mental health problems. Ex: If a person normally has a lot of patience and all of a sudden they snap often, or someone cycles quickly through very different emotions (for example) there is a good chance they have mental health problems.
- Common Physical Symptoms: Symptoms of mental disorders can manifest physically, not just mentally. For example, a person suffering from depression or anxiety may exhibit chronic headaches, stomach problems, or vague pain in different places in the body that cannot be attributed to any identifiable cause by medical professionals.
- Decrease in Performance: If an individual has been successful and performing well, but suddenly stops working hard, working as efficiently as before, or has lost their appetite to finish a task, they may need to be referred to a professional.
- Hair Loss: An Often-Overlooked Mental Health Indicator
Hair loss often coincides with mental distress, although many individuals do not see this relationship. Stress, anxiety and depression have all been linked to telogen effluvium, whereby excessive emotional or physical stress causes the hair follicles to enter a state of dormancy, which leads to excessive shedding months later. Another mental health issue that arises during high-stress and/or anxious times is trichotillomania (“hair pull” disorder), where individuals repetitively pull out their own hair.
In addition to the biological link between hair loss and mental distress, experiencing hair loss can have a tremendous impact on an individual’s self-esteem and mental well-being—creating an unfortunate cycle. For many, their hair is often symbolic of their sense of self, self-confidence and self-image. Losing a significant amount of hair may exacerbate feelings of anxiety or depression, especially if it occurs rapidly or during adolescence.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sudden or excessive loss of hair, coupled with other symptoms of mental distress, you should explore both of these issues with a qualified health care provider. Addressing the underlying mental health condition and treating the hair loss equation are both excellent ways to achieve optimal health and well-being.
- PRP for Hair Loss: A Treatment Worth Knowing About
For people who are losing their hair because of stress or some other cause, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a possible treatment option. The process for PRP involves drawing a small quantity of blood from the patient, processing that blood to concentrate the platelets, and injecting the PRP into the patient’s scalp. In addition, the growth factors found in PRP may assist in stimulating the hair follicles so that they may grow new hair and/or strengthen the existing hair.
While PRP is not a silver bullet, many patients are reporting very positive results from a number of treatments. Patients find that the minimally invasive treatment is easy to perform, it utilizes the body’s natural healing ability and it has a very low potential for adverse reactions. When thinking about the relationship between PRP and mental health, there is potential for PRP to disrupt the cycle hair loss creates with emotional distress.
Individuals may gain a tangible benefit from seeing their hair restored and the confidence they may gain from their hair restoration may change the way they feel about themselves. However, it is important to remember that PRP should be regarded as part of a larger treatment plan for addressing mental health problems, which are often the cause of hair loss.
- Taking Action: What to Do When You Spot the Signs
Recognizing warning signs doesn’t really matter unless there is something that can be done about them. For example, if you identify any patterns within yourself or feel a change in emotion or behavior, speak up to a trustworthy source (such as a friend, relative, or approach a mental health professional about it), many people may wait too long because they convince themselves that they are overreacting, or that they should be able to cope alone. However, both reasons would be false.
If you are concerned about someone else, you should address them with caring rather than a judgmental attitude. Rather than saying “You appear depressed”, instead say “It has been noticeable that you are not the same lately, and I am concerned about you, do you want to talk with me?”. This will give them a chance to talk and allows the person space without putting pressure on them to share everything at once.
Professional support is essential, and the benefits of having someone who understands what is going on in a person’s mind and an expert in mental health care far exceeds any help that friends or family can provide. Seeking help is an act of bravery and shows great strength.
Conclusion:
The experience of mental health issues is common throughout a person’s life so it is important to know what to look for with regards to the warning signs and to understand that they can be seen as expressions of the individual’s ability to sleep, socialize with others and deal with stressful situations, etc. Recognition of these signs and patterns does not require a psychology background; instead it requires an observant individual who trusts their intuition and cares enough to ask tough questions to determine whether help is needed.
Keep your eyes and ears open. If something doesn’t feel right about a situation, whether it’s yours or someone else’s, don’t ignore it. If there is a whisper in your ear telling you, “This isn’t right,” it should be listened to, because it often is true. By identifying the signs of mental health problems early on and acting with empathy and urgency, we will be effective in providing people such as Marcus with the resources necessary to resolve their problems before reaching the point of crisis. Mental health is extremely important, and all opportunities to provide support to people in these areas should be taken advantage of and not overlooked.