Services to Help People With Mental Health Issues

Mental health problems can include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, thought disorders, personality disorders and chronic and debilitating mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As of 2008, National Institute of Mental Health statistics revealed that as many as 25 percent of all Americans in the United States qualify for a diagnosis of mental health problems. About one in 17 Americans suffers from a chronic, debilitating mental illness. People suffering from mental health issues are often too discouraged, depressed or debilitated to seek help, however options are available.

Crisis Hotlines

• Calling a crisis hotline can be helpful.

  Get him to call a crisis hotline. Often free and easy to contact, a crisis hotline is a helpful choice for people who are worried that they may be developing a mental illness or for people who are struggling to cope with a chronic mental health condition. National crisis hotlines exist for problems such as child abuse, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence and eating disorders.

Support Groups

• Support groups offer help for the mentally ill.

  Encourage her to join a mental health support group. These groups provide peer support, sometimes with and sometimes without a professional counselor as a moderator. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides local chapters in most states and links to reputable support groups including in-person groups and online resources.

Behavioral Health Insurance

• Help him to call his behavioral health insurance company and ask for an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) referral. Many employers offer free counseling for up to 10 sessions per year under EAP programs. Most behavioral health insurance companies can refer you to articles for general education, give you names of counselors that are a good match for your problems and some even offer telephone consultations with a licensed mental health professional as part of your insurance benefits.

Counseling

• Encourage her to try a different therapist if her first experience was not good.

  Encourage her to see a therapist. Mental health professionals are specifically trained to help people suffering from mental illnesses to sort through and heal from mental health problems. Encourage the person to try another therapist if she feels her first appointment was ineffective or she did not make an emotional connection to the therapist.