Seeking support for your mental health can be the first step toward recovery while going through challenging times. Fortunately, plenty of options are available to suit your needs, preferences, and your budget.

Most mental health services are covered by health insurance to some degree, while others provide free support or resources to those who can’t access professional medical help. Whichever case you fall into, there is someone qualified that you can turn to and guide your decision-making to that you get the right kind of assistance and get better.

Here’s how to seek help for your mental health.

1. Primary Physician

There are many types of health practitioners that you can seek out for mental health help. One of the best places to start is your primary care physician or family doctor. They’re the most familiar with your health and have a record of your medical history. This allows them to get an overview of your health to determine which assessments to conduct.

Thus, you can consult with your doctor and provide them with enough information about your symptoms and experiences so that they know the necessary next steps to take. Some of the outcomes you can expect from a GP visit for mental health assistance include a referral to a therapist to help improve your emotional wellbeing or diagnose your condition. They can recommend lifestyle changes if your physical health affects your mental health, such as chronic illness, pain, or poor sunlight exposure.

2. Therapists

Therapists are among the best medical professionals to seek help for the long-term because they specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, mania, and psychosis. Fortunately, there are therapists you can get help from either through a family doctor referral or by searching for a therapist who deals with your condition.

The types of therapists you’ll likely visit are psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychoanalysts. While they might help with similar mental health conditions and illnesses, psychiatrists often prescribe medicine as a treatment. In contrast, psychologists typically offer nonmedicated support such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy. Therefore, you should choose your therapist based on the treatment options and outcomes you seek.

3. Community Support And Mental Health Organizations

Outside of healthcare-covered therapists, there are still plenty of options to get mental health support from the community and mental health organizations. These are counselors, family and group therapists, social workers, and peer supporters. Many provide free services to groups or individuals in clinics, hospitals, schools, residential treatment facilities, and organizational centers.

While they can’t prescribe medication, community counselors can offer help if you’re looking for guidance and social support as you cope with difficult circumstances such as grief, family, and marital issues. Furthermore, some organizations and charities provide help to specific members of society. These include veterans’ counselors that help with military PTSD and drug and alcohol counselors if you need help with substance abuse. There are also support groups for troubled children and youths and religious counselors if you prefer faith-based spiritual healing.

4. Digital And Phone Resources

In this age of information sharing and mobile tools, there are more digital resources than ever to get help for your mental health. They can guide your understanding of mental health, provide suggestions on how to uplift your mood, prioritize wellness and self-care and, in many cases, offer online support.

You can find these services from online counselors that provide support through video calls, text messages, emails, and phone calls. Additionally, they can be reached on crisis intervention hotlines and lifelines you call or text for immediate and emergency help. These are ideal for suicide and self-harm prevention. Then there are free mental health-focused mobile apps, self-help books and programs, podcasts, blogs, and games to supplement professional treatment. They include actionable mood, meditation, and anxiety management apps to help you take care of your everyday well-being.

Conclusion

Seeking help for your mental health can begin with a consultation with your primary physician. They can advise, recommend, diagnose, or refer you to a specialist to treat your condition. This can lead you to a therapist who can provide more in-depth treatment and medication if needed.

Alternatively, you can turn to your community for social support and counselors to help you get through difficult life situations and offer free services. Finally, online and phone options are available for you to use and interact with that focus on developing your well-being through daily tasks and hotlines for emergencies. All these offers can be effective steps to getting professional help and improving your mental health.

How To Seek Help For Your Mental Health