\n EDITOR\u2019S NOTE:\u00a0 Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters.
In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world.\n<\/p>\n
\n In this chaotic world of busy schedules, stressful current events<\/a> and personal responsibilities, growing distracted from your internal world is common.\n <\/p>\n \n Whether intentional or not, \u201cpeople may believe they are \u2018fine\u2019 while functioning on autopilot, overworking or numbing with social media doom scrolling<\/a>, food, alcohol or even checking out with excessive sleep,\u201d said Dr. Urszula Klich, a clinical psychologist in Atlanta, via email.\n <\/p>\n \n That\u2019s why this World Mental Health Day, Klich and other experts recommend taking a moment to dig deep and ask yourself, \u201cHow am I really?\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Maintaining clear awareness of your mental well-being is essential for prevention and balance, Klich said. \u201cSelf-awareness helps us detect stress or emotional imbalance early, allowing adjustment,\u201d she added. \u201cBeing self-aware is part of emotional intelligence \u2014 a kind of emotional literacy for knowing what you feel. Understanding why is another part of the puzzle, but one we can\u2019t even begin to take if we don\u2019t recognize we are having problems.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n How can you learn how you\u2019re doing? It can be as simple as making a point to be mindful of your experiences throughout your day, journaling on a regular basis<\/a> or finding and talking with a therapist.\n <\/p>\n \n More structured and clinically validated mental health screenings, which aren\u2019t intended to give diagnoses, are available on the website of Mental Health America<\/a>, a nonprofit promoting mental health and illness prevention through education, research and advocacy.\n <\/p>\n \n CNN talked to several mental health experts, and these are some factors they suggested you consider in your self-assessment. They also shared thoughts about what to do if you think you need help.\n <\/p>\n \n Nobody feels perfectly happy or content all the time. Temporarily feeling mildly stressed or low due to changes in your personal life, your work life or in the world is normal, and that feeling can briefly affect your sleep, motivation or mood, Klich said.\n <\/p>\n \n Everyone occasionally experiences these transient aspects of the human condition, said Dr. Ken Duckworth, chief medical officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and author of \u201cYou Are Not Alone<\/a>: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health \u2014 With Advice From Experts and Wisdom From Real People and Families.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n You may be able to handle that kind of situation yourself by talking to a friend, going for a run, journaling or choosing another healthy habit that helps you feel better, Klich added.\n <\/p>\n \n What if it\u2019s not temporary? When symptoms persist beyond two weeks and affect your ability to function and enjoy life, it\u2019s time to pay more attention, Duckworth and Klich said. Experiencing a cluster of symptoms rather than one or two should also be concerning, said Theresa Nguyen, a licensed clinical social worker and chief research officer at Mental Health America.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cFinding life anxiety-provoking is a normal human experience,\u201d Duckworth said. But if you can\u2019t bounce back from those feelings and find you often can\u2019t parent properly, get your work done, get out of bed, follow through on plans with friends or eat properly, you should talk with your doctor or a therapist about your issues and ways to manage them, Duckworth added. Also, pay attention to any loved ones telling you they have noticed changes in your mood or behavior.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cPeople often say that relationship problems are the precipitating factors that lead them to look at mental health issues,\u201d Nguyen said.\n <\/p>\n \n Additionally, how resilient are you? Do you sit and wallow for a long time or allow yourself to feel your emotions for a short time and then make any needed changes to deal with life? Your answer to that can also be telling.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cIf you are concerned about a mood disorder, ask yourself if you can try to maintain daily routines such as sleeping, eating, getting outside or communicating with others, as structure can stabilize functioning,\u201d Klich said. \u201cInvolve supportive family or friends for accountability and encouragement.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n A health professional can also rule out underlying medical conditions, she added, since those can sometimes appear to be mental health ones.\n <\/p>\n \n What if you feel you\u2019re in real bad shape? Indicators that your mental health is more dire can include experiencing worsening impairment, frequently abandoning responsibilities to loved ones, using substances to cope, not maintaining hygiene, putting your safety at risk or feeling unrelenting feelings of hopelessness, despair or suicidal ideation, Klich said. Psychosis \u2014 marked by hallucinations, delusions or loss of reality \u2014 is another sign.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cAppropriate help is vital if mental health issues are escalating, and severe symptoms rarely improve without structured support,\u201d Klich said. \u201cIt can literally become life or death or, in the least, result in severe relationship and work disruptions. If you have signs that your life is feeling out of control or have thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, it is vital to get a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychologist. Medication management and therapy can help.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The sooner you seek help, the less likely you\u2019ll need hospitalization, Klich added.\n <\/p>\n \n In this case, maintaining healthy sleep and eating patterns as best you can is also critical. Regardless of your situation, other practices that can keep you mentally healthy are regularly engaging with whatever helps you feel purpose in life, taking breaks from technology<\/a>, spending time in spaces and with things that relax you, and practicing mindfulness<\/a> or breath work<\/a>, experts said.\n <\/p>\n \n Government and nonprofit organizations in the United States and the United Kingdom<\/a> have multiple resources for mental health support<\/a>, such as specialized helplines and treatment locators.\n <\/p>\n \n If you\u2019re facing insurance or financial barriers, several organizations want to help \u2014 including Mental Health America<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n \n The International Association for Suicide Prevention<\/a> and Befrienders Worldwide<\/a> provide contact information for crisis centers around the world.\n <\/p>\n \n The National Alliance for Eating Disorders<\/a> has a free helpline at 866-662-1235 where you can reach licensed therapists who specialize in eating disorders and are available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. The organization also has a list of free or low-cost resources.\n <\/p>\n \n Eating disorder <\/a>helplines<\/a> for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are open 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.\n <\/p>\n \n Australia\u2019s Butterfly Foundation<\/a> runs a call center (at 1800-33-4673) and online chat from 8 a.m. to midnight Australian Eastern Time every day.\n <\/p>\n