James Donaldson on Mental Health - How to spot and help someone in a mental health crisis

By DEVI SHASTRI Experts wish more people spotted the signs earlier: feeling overwhelmed, not feeling “like yourself,” shifts in sleep, behaviour and mood.

The United States has a mental health problem, data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

More young people, especially girls, are reporting poor mental health.

And while the national suicide rate fell slightly in 2024, it did so from one of its highest levels ever reported .

Mental health crises can happen abruptly or build to a tipping point over time.

They can be fuelled by a sudden loss or traumatic event, personal or societal upheaval, underlying health conditions, or any combination of factors.

Whatever the cause, experts say the best thing to do is to spark a conversation as early as possible and connect to a broader support system.

Key signals Mental health professionals say what constitutes a crisis varies from person to person.

But there are some key signals that could indicate someone is struggling, and they can be subtle at first.

“My crisis might not be your crisis, but what we do know is that – however people define crisis – there is a change in how they’re feeling, a change in how they’re behaving,” said Dr Theresa Miskimen Rivera, president of the American Psychiatric Association.