Signs that help to identify individuals who require expert (professional) help in mental health are called ‘red flags’. Symptoms, if present, in any person should satisfy three requirements
1. it should be present for a considerably long period of time
2. symptom has become more severe than before
3. it has created problems in the person’s life.
The signals indicating a need for professional help are:
1. inability to concentrate or to sleep well.
2. severe confusion and memory loss.
3. intense and uncontrollable negative feelings.
4. self-neglect or even self-harm.
5. loss of interest in friends/ family/ activities.
6. odd statement or strange use of words.
Treatment strategies range form pharmacotherapy (administering drugs) to psychotherapy such as Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Group/Family Therapy, etc. Mental health professionals are qualified to decide the plan of treatment.
