If you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of someone you know, please know, there is never a wrong time to seek help.

If you find yourself concerned about your mental well-being or that of someone else, such as a child or person you care for, determining whether professional help is necessary can be challenging. Each person can experience mental health issues in their own unique way. It is essential to be able to recognise the various signs that can indicate when seeking help is appropriate.

There's never an inappropriate time to seek assistance. Yet, making the decision to reach out for support can be daunting. You might hesitate to ask for help, fearing that your mental health concerns aren't severe enough to warrant professional attention.

However, when it comes to mental health, there is no specific threshold for seeking professional help. Waiting to see if things worsen before reaching out is unnecessary. Research indicates that early intervention can significantly reduce the duration and severity of mental health issues.

Indications that it's time to seek support may appear differently for each person. Mental illness can manifest as subtle feelings that something is amiss or escalate into overwhelming physical, emotional, or behavioural changes.

In general, consider seeking assistance if:

• You have been experiencing persistent feelings of worry, sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, numbness, or a sense of being 'not yourself' for several weeks or more.

• Your emotional state is impacting your ability to cope effectively at work, school, or in your relationships.

Additionally, be attentive to changes in feelings, thoughts, or behaviours, as they may also signal a need for support. For example,

Feelings:

• Experiencing sadness, tearfulness, anxiety, or irritability

• Feeling guilt or shame

• Experiencing hopelessness and/or negative self-perception

• Dealing with exhaustion

• Sense of isolation or loneliness

• Experiencing worry or fear

• Feeling tense or on edge

• Nervousness or fearful emotions

• Overwhelmed by sensations

Thoughts:

• Entertaining thoughts that life is overwhelming

• Struggling to cope with challenges

• Difficulty maintaining focus

• Feeling inadequate or worthless

• Perceiving everything as going awry

• Believing there is no escape from difficulties

• Doubting that the situation will improve

• Experiencing a lack of anticipation for the future

Behaviours:

• Alterations in motivation and energy levels

• Difficulty experiencing pleasure or finding enjoyment in activities

• Sleep disturbances, including poor quality or inadequate sleep

• Fluctuations in appetite or weight

• Challenges with concentration, focus, and memory

• Experiencing sweating, shaking, difficulty moving

• Engaging in risky behaviours or impulsivity

We feel everyone can benefit from counselling, even if they are not experiencing any mental health or life issues. While we are experienced in supporting people through crises, we prefer to take a preventative and proactive approach. This entails seeking therapeutic assistance before substantial problems emerge. It focuses on fostering personal growth, self-enhancement, and fortifying resilience. By employing proactive strategies and interventions, we believe individuals can cultivate the necessary skills and insights to navigate life's challenges when they occur, with much greater effectiveness and less negative impact.

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call (000).

There are also two secondary emergency call service numbers— 112 and 106.  112 is available from most mobile phones. 106 connects to the text-based relay service for people who have a hearing or speech impairment. All calls to the emergency numbers, whether from fixed, mobile, pay phones or VoIP services are free-of-charge.

If you need help from Police but it is not an emergency, you can call 131 444 instead. This is for reporting non-urgent police matters and general enquiries.