According to the National Institute for Mental Health, one in five adults live with a mental illness. This means that there is likely someone in your life struggling with a mental health condition. Sometimes, these people need someone to intervene and support them in getting the help they need. However, how do you know when it’s time to intervene? Well, let’s find out.

Warning Signs

First, you’ll have to recognize that someone is struggling with their mental health. Luckily, there are some telltale signs that will alert you when someone needs help. These are:

– Mood Changes: Having extreme mood swings, having a persistent low mod, or displaying a feeling of hopelessness.

– Behavioral Changes: Withdrawing from family and friends, acting extremely quiet, or isolating themselves.

– Change in Sleep: Sleeping too little or too much. 

– Changes in Diet: Not eating enough or eating too much. This usually comes with extreme weight gain or loss. 

– Physical Signs: Complaining of unexplained aches or pains.

– Substance Use: Misusing drugs or alcohol.

– Apathy: Displaying a loss of initiative or joy in activities they used to love.

All of these signs will not always be present when struggling with mental health. For this reason, you should be familiar with all of them to have the best chance at recognizing when someone needs your help. 

Recognizing Severity of Mental Health Issues

The best way of measuring the severity of someone’s mental health issues is to look at their day-to-day life. If they are struggling to keep up with work, school, or are neglecting personal relationships, it is likely that their mental health struggles are severe. However, some people are better at hiding their struggles and keeping up with their responsibility, regardless of how severe their struggles are. For this reason, you should also keep an eye out for a decline in hygiene and trouble concentrating. Both of which are signs of severe mental health struggles.

Steps to Take Before an Intervention

Before intervening, there are some steps you should take to make sure you are as prepared as possible. These are:

– Researching the mental health issue in depth. This includes educating yourself on possible treatment options.

– Decide on a course of action if the person does not accept the help you offer. Sometimes, multiple interventions are required.

– Prepare exactly what you will say and what resources you plan on sharing.

– Plan and prepare for how the person will react. They may be angry or sad. Remember not to judge them and let them feel whatever they need to.

– Remember to be discreet. They may not want a lot of people to know what they are going through.

Following these steps will give you the best chance of helping your loved one with their mental health. 

How to Offer Support

It can be tricky to offer your support. Most importantly, avoid judgement. You do not want to make them feel bad about their mental health as it is not something they can control. Make sure to express concern, letting them know that you want to help them because you care for them. Finally, listen more than you talk. Many times, people will begin talking about their mental health, happy to finally have a chance to open up. Do not interrupt. Just listen and ask open ended questions to keep the dialogue going.

Signs of an Immediate Crisis

In times of immediate crisis, the best thing you can do is take immediate action. To do this, you’ll need to know the signs that someone is having such a crisis. These signs are:

– Threats to harm themselves or others.

– Hallucinations or delusions.

– Extreme withdrawal, such as refusing to speak with anyone at all.

– Acting extremely aggressive or antisocial.

If you notice any of these signs, it is likely the person has reached their braking point. They are likely a danger to themselves or others and it is time to take emergency actions. 

Emergency Actions

When you have determined someone is in immediate crisis, there are emergency actions you should take to help them. These include:

– Calling 911 if they are in immediate danger, are harming themselves, or harming others.

– Stay calm and listen attentively. Let them know you’re there for them.

– Do not leave them alone under any circumstances. They may try to act like the episode has passed in an attempt to get you to leave. Stay until you are absolutely sure they are out of danger.

– Remove all potentially dangerous objects from the area.

Using these emergency actions has the potential to save a life.

Supporting Long-Term Recovery

Mental health recovery is not a fast process. It can take months or even years. First, you should help your loved one receive inpatient mental health treatment. This involves them staying at a treatment facility to receive the help they need. Visit regularly and stay in contact. Make sure they know that you haven’t forgotten about them and will be there for them when they have completed their inpatient program. Once they have completed the program, continue to offer your support and be someone they can turn to if they need additional help.