If you think you may have a mental illness, it is important to seek professional help. The first place to start is to speak with your family physician. Sometimes other medical conditions (e.g., hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies) have similar symptoms to mental illnesses and therefore need to be ruled out.

Once you have been diagnosed by your doctor with a mental illness, what comes next? Two of the most common treatments are medication and therapy, often used in combination.

Medication
There are many types of medication available, each with benefits and side effects. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs (e.g., Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft) are some of the most commonly used antidepressants. These act on the chemical imbalances found in people with depression and anxiety. Along with asking your doctor, you can visit http://www.webmd.com/drugs/ for more information on medications.

Therapy

As with medications, there are several types of therapy. Examples of talk therapy include:

•  Psychotherapy: clients talk about their lives and past experiences to a therapist.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: a therapist helps a client change negative thought patterns.
• Group therapy: group members share with others, often reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

If you or your doctor decide that therapy would be beneficial, you have a number of options. Your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist, or you may want to find someone yourself, such as a psychologist or social worker.

When finding a mental health practitioner, be sure to choose a person who is licensed by a regulating association, such as the Canadian Psychological Association (www.cpa.ca), Canadian Psychiatric Association (www.cpa-apc.org), or the Canadian Association of Social Workers (www.casw-acts.ca).  Therapy may also be covered through your Employee Assistance Plan or Health Care Benefits Plan. Contact your EAP Representative, Green Shield, or Benefits Link for further information.