Outpatient Mental Health Services

The term “mental health disorder” is a general name for a wide range of conditions related to mental functioning that affect your thinking, emotion regulation or behavior. Mental health conditions vary in severity from mild levels of impairment to debilitating effects. The severity of a mental disorder is typically determined by how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and how much the condition is interfering with or limiting your major life activities.

Mental disorders are more prevalent than most people realize, in part because stigma deters many from talking about or seeking the help they need and deserve. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five adults in the U.S. live with a mental illness. The most common types of mental illnesses are:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Depressive Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Schizophrenia

Mental health challenges could be considered situational if you can attribute your emotional or behavioral symptoms (anxiety, hopelessness, crying spells, loss of interest) to an identifiable stressor. This type of response is what’s known as an “adjustment disorder”—an emotional or behavioral reaction to an extremely stressful or disruptive event, situation or life change (death of a loved one, major illness, job loss, divorce). With an adjustment disorder, your response to the stressor could be immediate or it could be delayed for weeks or even months. If symptoms persist for more than six months after the stressor or its consequences have subsided, the mental health condition is considered to be more than situational.

Chronic mental health disorders, on the other hand, involve psychiatric symptoms that consistently and seriously impair your daily functioning. 

Given the wide range of mental health disorders—each with its own symptoms and effects—there isn’t really a single checklist of indicators. A general rule of thumb is to seek professional help if you’re just not feeling like yourself. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Am I uninterested in things I used to enjoy?
• Have I been getting overly emotional or overly agitated?
• Am I relying on alcohol or other drugs to feel better?
• Do I have difficulty staying focused or concentrating?
• Have I been avoiding social interaction?
• Have my eating patterns or sleeping patterns changed?
• Do I have suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming others?

These questions are just a starting place and not a substitute for a mental health assessment with a licensed mental health professional. In addition to diagnosing your condition, a mental health professional will determine whether counseling, medications or other kinds of care and support are most appropriate for you.

Another note: With so much information on the Internet, it’s tempting to self-diagnose a mental health condition. We can see a list of signs and symptoms and think we know what we have. Or a loved one might be offering their diagnosis. Again, a mental health evaluation by a licensed provider is the most helpful place to start.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who evaluate the need for prescription medications and monitor the use of those medications to ensure they are achieving the intended outcome. (In some states, psychologists are authorized to prescribe medications). Psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions and facilitate psychotherapy. Other mental health professionals who provide individual or group counseling include marriage and family therapists, licensed social workers and addiction counselors.

A psychological or psychiatric evaluation is performed by a licensed mental health professional to identify the psychological factors that are affecting your ability to function. This evaluation typically includes:

• Taking a mental health history
• Identifying any medical conditions
• Learning about your family history and social history
• Identifying any exposure to trauma
• Discussing your substance use

The length of time and intensity of psychological treatment will depend on your specific mental health diagnosis. It’s important to understand that psychotherapy and medications for mental illness don’t work overnight—but they do work. Think of recovery as more of a process than an event in terms of feeling some relief and learning healthy new ways of coping with your mental health challenges and managing your symptoms.

Not necessarily. Medications like antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics are often used in combination with psychotherapy to treat mental illness, but your treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis and your specific needs.

To find the most-effective therapy, seek out licensed mental health professionals who specialize in treating your condition (depression, anxiety, trauma) and who use evidence-based treatment practices. Evidence-based treatment means the therapeutic approach is backed by scientific evidence and tailored by the clinician to meet your specific needs. Three of the most common evidence-based mental health treatment approaches are acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.

A dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders, refers to the combination of mental disorders and substance use disorders (alcohol or other drug addiction). It is important to recognize that both the substance use disorder and the mental health disorder need to be treated. If only one of the disorders is treated, the other condition can worsen. With such complex conditions, the most effective treatment begins with an accurate diagnosis and involves an integrated approach to care.

Genetics are often part of the picture but not the whole picture. Research points to a number of genetic, environmental and physiological risk factors linked to the development of mental illness. Research also suggests that some psychological disorders are more common in people whose blood relatives have a psychological disorder. 

What a great question! Even the smallest changes in your daily habits and practices can have a powerfully positive impact on your mental health. Here are three simple things you can do to support your mental health:

• Practice gratitude - Start your day or end your day by writing down something/someone/some experience you’re thankful for
• Move around - Even a little physical activity is good for your outlook and emotional health
• Connect with people - Talk to a friend or even a friendly face at the grocery store—social interaction is a mood booster

Be patient with yourself as you adjust your daily routine and try new practices. It takes at least six months to change a behavior.