Minding Your Mental Health™ |
Section II - Mental Health Topics |
How do you know if you or someone you know needs professional help for a mental health condition?
Minding Your Mental Health can help you make this decision. The guide presents information on 24 common mental health topics. Each topic has four parts:
(Note: “Yes” and “No” questions and self-help tips are not found in four topics:
Bipolar Disorder | |
Obsessive Compulsive Behavior | |
Paranoia | |
Schizophrenia |
These mental health conditions should not be self-diagnosed or self-treated.)
Find the topic in the Table of Contents. Topics are in order from A to Z. Go to that page and read about it. Ask yourself the “Questions to Ask.” Start at the top of the flow chart and answer “Yes” or “No” to each question. Follow the arrows until you get to one of these answers:
Get Emergency Care | |
See Physician | |
Call Physician | |
See Counselor or Call Counselor | |
Use Self-Help |
Get Emergency Care
You should seek immediate attention. Either:
Go to the hospital emergency room | |
Call 911 or other number for emergency medical service (EMS) from your city EMS department or local ambulance service | |
Call Suicide Prevention, Crisis Intervention Center or your psychiatrist or counselor right away |
Make sure you know phone numbers for emergency help. Write them down near your phone.
See Physician The term “Physician” is used for a number of health care providers, including:
If your answer is “See Physician,” you should do so as soon as you can. You
may need medication or treatment for the condition. Call first and ask for an
appointment or for immediate care. State the problem. If you can’t be seen soon,
ask for a referral. A referral from your physician can help you get to see
someone else who can help you. For example, your physician may refer you to a
counselor or self-help support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). |
|||||||||||||||||
Call Physician Call your physician and state the problem. He/she can decide to:
|
|||||||||||||||||
See Counselor or Call Counselor The term “Counselor” is used for a number of mental health care providers:
(Note: You may need to call your primary care physician for a referral to a
mental health care provider, including a psychiatrist, if you belong to a Health
Maintenance Organization (HMO) or other managed health care plan. Also, a
counselor may have you join a self-help/support group.) |
|||||||||||||||||
Self-Help You can probably help yourself with the problem if you answered NO to all the
questions. Use the self-help tips listed. Self-help tips may help prevent the
mental health conditions discussed. But if things don’t get better, call your
physician or counselor. There may also be “after-care” measures that can
maintain progress after getting treatment for a condition. |
|||||||||||||||||
To learn more about topics covered in this Guide and other mental health issues, access the Web site, www.nmha.org. Also check the “National Resources” page. |
|
Copyright 2004, 5th Edition, American Institute for Preventive Medicine. All rights reserved. |