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Home » Self Help » Types of mental health problems

Mental health problems

We’ve put together information on some of the most typical mental health problems that you might be experiencing.

This includes information to help you understand your issue, tips on how to handle things, and information on where to get support.

This list is quite long, and in alphabetical order, so please scroll down until you find what you’re looking for. You can also find a list of useful websites and advice on how to take care of your mental health.

If you’re not sure where to get support, call the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub on 0300 123 6621 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm) to talk to the team.

What are mental health problems?

Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life.

But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.

Mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year. Read more.

Anxiety

Explains anxiety, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

READ MORE
Bipolar disorder

Explains what bipolar disorder is, what kinds of treatment are available, and how you can help yourself cope. Also provides guidance on what friends and family can do to help.

READ MORE
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Explains what body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is, possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and advice for friends and family.

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Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Explains borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). Includes what it feels like, causes, treatment, support and self-care, as well as tips for friends and family.

READ MORE
Depression

Explains depression, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

READ MORE
Dissociation and dissociative disorders

Explains dissociative disorders, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Drugs and alcohol

Learn how recreational drugs and alcohol can affect your mental health, including if you take psychiatric medication. Find support options for drug and alcohol addiction, and ways to help someone else with their drug and alcohol use.

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Eating problems

Explains eating problems, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Hearing voices

Explains what it is like to hear voices, where to go for help if you need it, and what others can do to support someone who is struggling with hearing voices.

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Hoarding

Explains hoarding, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Hypomania and mania

Explains hypomania and mania, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Explains obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Panic attacks

Explains what panic attacks are, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Paranoia

Explains paranoia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Personality disorder

Explains personality disorder, why you might be given this diagnosis and how you can access treatment and support.

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Phobias

Explains phobias, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Explains postnatal depression and other perinatal mental health issues, including possible causes, sources of treatment and support. Also gives advice for friends and family.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Explains what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD are, and provides information on how you can access treatment and support. Includes self-care tips and guidance for friends and family.

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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Explains what PMDD is and explores issues around getting a diagnosis. Also provides information on self-care and treatment options, and how friends and family can help.

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Psychosis

Explains what psychosis is, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Schizoaffective disorder

Explains what schizoaffective disorder is, including its symptoms and causes. Gives advice on how you can help yourself and what types of treatment and support are available, as well as guidance for friends and family.

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Schizophrenia

Explains schizophrenia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Explains seasonal affective disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Self-esteem

Explains how to increase your self-esteem, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.

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Self-harm

Explains self-harm, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

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Suicidal feelings

Explains what suicidal feelings are, including possible causes and how you can learn to cope.

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Suicide attempt - how to cope after

Find information to help you cope after a suicide attempt – including how you may feel, what might happen afterwards, and where to find support.

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Tardive dyskinesia

Explains what tardive dyskinesia is, what causes it and what you can do to manage it.

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Trauma

Explains what trauma is and how it affects your mental health, including how you can help yourself, what treatments are available and how to overcome barriers to getting the right support. Also includes tips for people who want to support someone who has gone through trauma.

READ MORE

Get in touch

Our friendly team at the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub are here to help.

Call us

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Monday to Friday

0300 123 6621

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If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health help, please call 111 – the NHS non-emergency number. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is free from any phone. They have specialist mental health nurses who can support adults and young people.

In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.