Red Umbrella
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About Mental Illness

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social wellbeing and it affects how we think, feel, act, and react. It is what enables us to live our daily life.

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Much Like Physical Ill Health, Mental Illness Is A Medical Problem

It refers to mental health conditions that:

  • Affect one's daily life

  • Cause ongoing symptoms

  • Prevent one from functioning normally

  • Significantly impact one's mood and behaviour

Depending on the severity of the issue, mental health conditions may require treatment such as medication or therapy to prevent them from worsening over time.

Living with Mental Illness
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Seeking Professional Help

Seeking professional help is vital, helping you obtain a formal diagnosis and understand how your condition affects you, as well as what the best form of treatment may be.  

It is also important to be able to differentiate between mental illness and other issues such as stress or a physical problem, and to learn about how a physical issue can lead to mental illness and vice versa.  

There are a number of mental illnesses that may affect different areas of your life, making it difficult to cope with school or work, your social life, and other commitments. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition or suicidal thoughts and is in need of immediate help, there are resources available.

Help for Suicidal Thoughts Mental Health Conditions

Learn About Conditions

There are various types of mental illnesses, and with symptoms often overlapping between different conditions, it may be hard to determine what may be causing them. Knowledge is power, and seeking the help of professionals to obtain a formal diagnosis is instrumental – through an accurate diagnosis, you can gain more accurate insight into the right form of treatment.

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Types Of Mental Health Conditions Include:

  • Anxiety disorders 

  • Bipolar disorders 

  • Depressive disorders 

  • Disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders 

  • Dissociative disorders 

  • Eating disorders 

  • Gender dysphoria 

  • Neurocognitive disorders 

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders 

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorders 

  • Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders 

  • Sleep disorders 

  • Somatic disorders 

  • Substance-related disorders 

  • Trauma-related disorders 

To find out more about mental health conditions, please visit our dedicated page.

Find Out More Living with Mental Illness
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Learn About Symptoms

Learning to recognise the symptoms of a potential mental health condition can change and save lives, as early intervention can help reduce the impact and severity of symptoms and prevent instances where a condition presents itself in full-scale.

However, it’s vital to seek the expertise of a medical professional to receive a formal diagnosis. Here are just a few of the symptoms that could signify an individual is experiencing mental illness:

  • Feeling down 

  • Extreme mood changes 

  • Tiredness, fatigue, or low energy 

  • Inability to concentrate 

  • Confused thinking 

  • Sleeping problems 

  • Feeling detached from reality 

  • Substance abuse 

  • Disordered eating and changes in appetite 

  • Sex drive changes 

  • Feelings of anger or violence 

  • Withdrawal from friends and activities 

  • Apathy 

  • Increased sensitivity such as excessive fears, worries, or feelings of guilt   

  • Hallucinations 

  • Loneliness 

  • Suicidal thoughts 

Find Out More Mental Health Conditions
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Learn About Triggers

Often, a mental illness can be caused or worsened by specific triggers, such as difficult circumstances in one’s life, memories, anything that engages the senses or causes extreme feelings, substance use and more. 

It’s essential to be aware of triggers that could negatively affect yourself or those around you, as these can vary significantly from person to person. Learn more about triggers by clicking the link below.

Find Out More

What Our Clients Are Saying

  • “I discovered Red Umbrella in 2022 while seeking support for staff and client wellbeing. Since our initial meeting, our relationship has grown significantly. Red Umbrella now provides crucial services like Mental Health First Aid Training, resilience training, and prisoner counselling.”

    Sarah Hearse

  • “The health and wellbeing of my staff are crucial to our business. When a key team member showed signs of mental illness, I realised I needed support to help them effectively. After contacting Red Umbrella, they quickly connected my employee with a therapist, leading to a successful recovery.”

    Nicola Harrison

  • “Red Umbrella has always put the needs of the customer first, delivering exemplary training through a highly credible and supportive team. The team are able to step up on short notice as well as support our pilot mental health training programme.”

    Josie Lazenby

  • “Referral only dental service providing community dental care and oral health improvement across much of the East of England and the Midlands. We have been very pleased with the flexibility Red Umbrella has provided to embed mental health training within our organisation.”

    Ben Browning-White

  • “A business creating actionable insights from connected assets for fleet operators and product manufacturers. We have been using Carecoins and Red Umbrella’s services for almost 12 months to support our employees with mental health and wellbeing.”

    Victoria Milnes
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    Want to Talk About Mental Health?

    Get in touch with our team today to discuss how Red Umbrella can help support mental wellbeing in your organisation.

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