How to Discover Mental illness in People

Here are the some signs to discover the mental illness in the children and adults. Though mental illnesses each have their own patterns of symptoms and every person is unique, there are common warning signs. These warning signs may indicate that an individual has a mental illness if they persist or get worse. However, this is not a complete list and you may notice other signs. Trust your instincts.  In trying to decide whether you think there is a serious problem, it may be helpful to write down some warning signs that you have noticed – in particular changes in regular patterns of behaviour.

In younger children:

· Severe separation anxiety

· Significant decline in school performance

· Frequent aggression, acting out or tantrums

· Excessive worry or anxiety

· Hyperactivity

· Sleep problems or persistent nightmares

· Persistent disobedience or aggression

· Withdrawal from activities, family or friends

· Refusing to go to school

In older children and adolescents:

· Excessive or unhealthy substance use

· Inability to cope with problems and daily activities

· Change in sleeping and/or eating habits

· Acting out, rebellion or opposition to authority

· Intense fear of weight gain

· Prolonged depressed mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death

· Frequent outbursts of anger

· Talk or thoughts of suicide

· Refusing to go to school

· Unexpected, noticeable weight loss or gain

In adults:

· Decline in work or school performance or poor attendance

· Prolonged depression (extreme sadness or irritability)

· Feelings of extreme highs and lows

· Having too much energy

· Exaggerated feelings of self

· Excessive worries and anxieties Social withdrawal

· Loss of interest in personal hygiene

· Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits

· Delusions (strongly held beliefs that have no basis in reality)

· Hallucinations (hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling something that isn’t real)

· Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities

· Suicidal thoughts

· Denial of severe problems

· Numerous unexplained physical ailments

· Excessive or unhealthy substance use

· Excessive concern about germs, time, or eating.