The issue of mental health has been a topic in the news lately. The rash of mass shootings across the country has raised awareness of the importance of recognizing signs that someone's mental health may be deteriorating. Unlike other illnesses, which often have obvious physical signs such as a rash, a limp, high blood pressure or a high body temperature, mental illness may not present any outward physical symptoms. This factor often makes it difficult to recognize when someone’s mental health is starting to deteriorate.

A person experiencing mental health issues can go to a family physician for an annual physical and get a great report. The physician checked his blood pressure, sugar level, weight, cholesterol, heart and reflexes. However, no testing or evaluation of the patient's mental health is performed. This lack of outward physical signs, the absence of evaluating a patient's mental health at regular physician visits, as well as our inability to recognize the subtle indicators of a loved one's downward mental spiral, often allow the fermentation of a mental health issue to go unnoticed. Just like any other health issue such as high blood pressure or diabetes, early detection is the key to getting an effective plan in place to be on the path to a healthy status.

In order to identify when someone may be having a mental health issue we need to be aware of some common indicators. Different people with mental health issues may exhibit different signs. Also, different mental illnesses have signs particular to it's type. However, the most common indicators of a loss of mental health are changes in a person's behavior such as:

• Showing frequent anger or irritability when none was apparent in the past

• Avoiding friends, social activities and relating to people

• A change in eating habits such as lack of appetite or increased hunger or weight gain

• A change in sleeping habits such as oversleeping or inability to sleep

• A change in sex drive

• An inability to carry out daily problems or activities previously able to

• A turn towards substance abuse whether it's drugs or alcohol

There are also other indicators that someone we know or love may be having a mental health issue . Changes in their thoughts and/or feelings can be the beginnings of a problem. It is important to be aware of some common symptoms that are involved in these changes.. An individual’s symptoms can be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and/or relational.

Physical indicators may be an appetite change, insomnia, restlessness, a lack of eye contact, excessive finger tapping or leg shaking, or increased alcohol/drug use.

Mental indicators may be forgetfulness, lethargy, negative attitude, and reduced ability to concentrate.

Emotional indicators can be increased irritability, crying spells, increased use of foul language, depression, or violent outbursts.

Spiritual indicators can be apathy, cynicism, doubt, emptiness, loss of meaning, sense of helplessness, sense of hopelessness or a loss of direction.

Relational indicators can be avoidance of people, blaming, distrust, or lashing out.

The relationship of stress to mental illness is being uncovered. The National Alliance on Mental Illness recognizes that stress can contribute to worsening symptoms of a mental illness. For example, in schizophrenia, it can encourage hallucinations and delusions. In bipolar disorder it can trigger episodes of both mania and depression. Chronic stress also increases the risk of developing depression and anxiety in some people.

This relationship between stress and mental health makes it important for all of us to know what our symptoms are when we are experiencing stress. Knowledge of the symptoms of stress can also help in the early detection of waning mental health in a fellow student. colleague or loved one. Review the following list of stress symptoms. Make a list of any that pertain to you or the person you care about.