HomeBlogPatientI Know I Have a Mental Health Problem. Where Do I Go for Help? I Know I Have a Mental Health Problem. Where Do I Go for Help? September 19, 2016Patient You’ve realized you have a problem. Perhaps you’ve been struggling with feelings of depression. Or are worried you may be relying too much on drugs or alcohol to cope with life. Maybe your anxiety has risen to the point where you are having trouble going to work every day. Or your mood swings are becoming so severe that you worry you may have bipolar disorder. Whatever the mental health problem may be, you recognize that something is wrong. And you believe it’s time to find help. You wouldn’t be the first—or the last. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3 percent of all Americans have dealt with serious psychological distress over the past 30 day period. That’s about a million people. And Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that a whopping 26 percent of Americans aged 18 or older — that’s one in four adults — suffers from a mental health disorder in a given year. You are not alone. And help is available. Perhaps, however, you don’t know where to begin. Luckily, today, many mental health advocacy groups and treatment organizations offer tools and resources to help you find your way to that help. Many of them are available on the Internet. If your mental health problems are not yet interfering with daily activities of living, like work and relationships, you can, of course, always speak to your primary care physician or another trusted healthcare provider to ask for a referral to mental health care. They can help connect you to the right resources. Advocacy organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America offer tools and resources to direct you to help. Mental Health America also offers online screening tools that may be of assistance. But sometimes, you may feel like you need more immediate assistance. The kind of assistance that can’t wait for an appointment or be helped with an online assessment. If you are suffering from this kind of anguish, don’t hesitate—reach out for help immediately. If you are in severe emotional distress or feeling suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This confidential crisis counseling center can not only offer someone to talk to when you need it—they can also offer mental health referrals. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers online tools as well as a Live Online Chat. If you are feeling suicidal, out of control, or worry that you may harm others, call emergency medical services at 9-1-1, or go immediately to your local emergency room for help. These emergency services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. September is a special month for mental health awareness. It is both National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. And these awareness events offer a variety of opportunities to get the help you need. You are not alone. And help is available. So if you find that you are one of those millions of Americans suffering from severe psychological distress, don’t hesitate. Find help now. You don’t need to suffer in silence. The information on this website is provided as a general information resource only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is provided “as is”. Assurex Health makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the information on this website. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Break the resolution cycle: How simple solutions can transform 2026 Like every year, many of us make New Year’s resolutions and try to stick to them, but broad, all-or-nothing changes often set us up for failure and can make... Read more
Patient Antidepressant Fatigue in Seniors: A Caregiver’s Guide to Reducing Daytime Sleepiness Without Losing Symptom Control You’re spending time with the older adult in your care who also happens to have clinical depression. You’re keeping tabs on how well they’re doing and wheth... Read more
Patient Empowering Senior Patient Care with Pharmacogenomics: Insights from the GeneSight Engage Webinar The most recent GeneSight Engage webinar explored how pharmacogenomic testing, particularly the GeneSight® test, is transforming the landscape of mental health ... Read more
Patient BIPOC (formerly Minority) Mental Health Month: Breaking Stigma, Building Trust Despite many efforts to stem it, stigma around mental health still exists, particularly in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. July mark... Read more
Patient Long-Term Effects of Antidepressants: What Research Shows Anyone who’s ever taken antidepressants for an extended period of time has probably wondered whether they’ll experience long-term effects: After years ... Read more
Patient Have a Mindful Summer: Take a Breather with These Simple Exercises Summer is a great time to kick back and relax—if you can find the time. Managing the hustle and bustle of kids off school, planning for fun summer activities an... Read more
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more