Mental health: When to seek professional support

Dealing with uncertainty and life changes, coping with emotions like stress and anxiety, can be overwhelming for everyone. That’s why it is important to pay attention to your own and your friends’ and family’s physical, mental, and emotional health.

It is always appropriate to ask for psychological and moral support. If you feel that sadness, bad mood and obsessive thoughts do not leave you, do not delay to get help from specialists.

Here are some signs that you should reach out and get help from a professional: 

• You are unable to carry out your usual activities because of how you are feeling.
• There are extreme or long-lasting changes to your usual eating and sleeping habits.
• You often feel panicked, for example, feeling like you can’t breathe or that your heart is pounding, and being unable to calm down. 
• You are using alcohol or drugs to cope.
• You feel that life is no longer worth living. 
• You have thoughts about hurting others, yourself or ending your life.
• You are experiencing violence or abuse.

If you are worried that it will be difficult to talk about how you are feeling, remember, you don't have to talk about everything you are experiencing at once. You can start by just sharing a little bit of information or letting someone know that you would like some support. 

Asking for help is a sign of strength - it shows self-awareness and courage to seek support during tough times. 

Reach out to someone you trust to can help you connect with a professional – your school psychologist or family doctor can be a good start – helplines for children and adolescents are also available.