Mental health is an umbrella term used to describe your emotional, social and psychological wellbeing which helps you cope and enjoy the challenges of everyday life.

When there is an issue in any one of these, it impacts your thinking, behaviour and perception of the world around you leading to a decline in your ability to deal with daily life. This is referred to as mental health problem or illness.

Recognising your mental wellbeing begins with increased self awareness. Some ways we can recognise our challenges are:

• Changes in how you feel about yourself, others or various situations.
• Unexplained anger, irritability which is unlike your usual self.
• Constant negative feelings, loss in interest in activities or a general sense of unease
• Changes in routines or habit which are unlike you
• Unexplained bodily symptoms which have no identifiable cause
• Poor sleep, fatigue, appetite.
• Severe unexplained anxiety, restlessness or edginess
• Sudden fears around safety

Everyone goes through turmoils of life. Everyone has experienced sadness, anxiety or been fearful of the unknown. When changes in your mood, thought, behaviour or perception last longer than couple of weeks and has a significant impact on your everyday life leading to difficulties in work, relationships or social life. Many times people around you might notice changes in your mood or behaviours much earlier than you might. This could be early indications of things not being well. It is always advisable to consult your doctor in such cases as early intervention is always better.

Diagnosis of mental health problems are based on either DSM 5 criteria, a US based guideline or ICD-11 criteria, an internationally accepted WHO based guideline. The assessment for them is made clinically by your psychiatrist after clinical consultation. On occasions your doctor might refer you for some paper pencil tests which are specialised tests conducted by clinical psychologists. These tests can aid in diagnosis and further planning.

Treatment options largely depend on the nature and severity of your illness. The two common options are talk therapies and medications. Other available options are ECT, ketamine therapy, rTMS. They can be used either alone or in combination depending upon the need and severity of the illnesses. In very severe cases, hospitalisation and initiation of treatment might be needed. One should discuss with their doctor to find what suits them best.

It is a commonly held myth that if it's in the mind, the person can change it to the will. Mental health issues are often trivialised and stigmatised. That also prevents someone from seeking the right kind of help. It is important to understand that mental health illnesses are like any other illness of the body. When recognised early in certain disorders, self help might work. In more serious kinds of mental illnesses early intervention is the key. Rather than struggling in silence it is always advisable to seek professional help to discuss in details.

Mental health issues are caused by more than one single factor. There is a complex interplay between our mind and our environment. This can often be difficult to ascertain. In many cases there is a genetic predisposition that can make someone vulnerable. Unfortunately, we still do not have any tests to identify the true cause.

The duration of the treatment can be variable and can depend upon the nature and severity of the illness. It can also depend on how long the illness has been there. This can be anything between few weeks to months. For some very severe cases it can be indefinite as well. This can be advised by your doctor as your treatment progresses. It is advisable to not discontinue your treatment without consulting your doctor as this may lead to a relapse of your condition.