- A mood disorder refers to conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.
- Anxiety disorders include panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress.
- Substance use disorders include the harmful use of alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, sedatives, and opioids.
Did you know that:
- 1 in 3 men will have a substance abuse disorder
- 1 in 5 men will have an anxiety disorder
- 1 in 8 men will have a mood disorder
- 1 in 9 men will experience suicidality
Some of the signs and symptoms that you might have a mental health issue include:
- Mood: Feeling sad, depressed, worried, or anxious. Irritability and anger, or difficulty concentrating.
- Behaviours: Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much. Loss of appetite or overeating. Drinking or using drugs. Risky behaviour or self-harm.
- Physical symptoms: Lack of energy/feeling tired. Unexplained aches and pains. Increased heart rate/breathing. Sweating/trembling.
- Social function: Withdrawal and isolation. Loss of interest in activities. Escapist behaviour (overworking). Difficulty fulfilling work and family responsibilities.
It is common for people to experience at least one of these symptoms at some point in their lives, and it doesn’t mean they have a mental health issue.
But it bears investigating. The more of these symptoms you have at any one time, the more likely it is that you may be dealing with a mental health issue.
If you think you, or someone you know, has a mental health condition, see your GP for a referral to a mental health professional.
They may be a psychologist, psychiatrist, mental health nurse, social worker, peer worker, occupational therapist, and mental health recovery and rehabilitation worker. Peer workers are trained mental health professionals who have experienced, and recovered from, mental health problems.