Mental Health
Mental Health Support for You
Just as important as your physical health is your mental health. They are connected, so the health of your body depends on your mental well-being. Getting help for a mental condition isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather an act of strength to take control of your health.
Take Your Next Step
A broad range of behavioral health conditions are shared by many people, though for different reasons and in differing degrees. Here are some common behavioral health conditions:
- Eating disorders
- Substance misuse
- Depression
- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and loss
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- ADD-ADHD
- Autism
Behavioral health conditions and their causes vary between people. Some conditions are passed down through family, while others can be due to abnormal brain chemistry, substance misuse or traumatic events or environments. It’s important to remember that behavioral health conditions are not the fault of the individual who is suffering.
Symptoms
If you or a loved one needs help, how do you recognize the problem? These are some of the common symptoms of behavioral health conditions:
- Decreased participation in activities or involvement with people
- Struggling to cope with job-related activities, everyday problems or daily household tasks
- Unexpected or abrupt mood swings, from joyful highs to gloomy lows
- Frequent thoughts about suicide or causing injury other people
- Recurring disruptive thoughts or memories
- Regular or increasing misuse of alcohol or drugs
- Behavior that is angry or prone to violent outbursts
- Feeling hopeless or a sense of overwhelming helplessness or deep sadness
- Imagining voices that aren’t there or believing things that aren’t true
- Developing an actual plan to commit suicide
These symptoms are warning signs that help is needed. If you or someone you care about is experiencing any of these symptoms, seeking early treatment is essential to successful care and management.
Take Action
The first step is to ask for help, but because behavioral health issues often carry the mistaken impression of weakness, asking for help can be difficult. It takes strength to confront behavioral health concerns. You wouldn’t ignore a heart condition, so you shouldn’t deny the importance of your behavioral health.
If you experience feelings that cause you to believe you may hurt yourself or someone else, get help right away. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) or your local crisis center. For Maryland: call or text 988.
If you are in an immediate state of crisis, call 9-1-1 or go directly to a hospital emergency room for urgent attention. Attending health care providers will also be able to tell you where and how to get more help.
Mental Health Providers
- Psychiatrists or medical healthcare providers. These professionals can give counseling and medicine.
- Psychologists. These professionals have doctorate degrees. They specialize in psychotherapy and human behavior.
- Mental health nurse practitioners. These professionals have advanced degrees. They can give counseling and medicine.
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW). These are professionals with a master’s degree who are trained in one-on-one and group psychotherapy. They help people deal with a variety of mental health and daily living problems.
- UpLift Virtual Behavioral Health program. Timely, personalized care for behavioral health concerns through a greatly expanded network and rapid scheduling, matching individual needs with a qualified clinician, often as soon as the next day. Visit UpLift.
Find a mental health provider:
Search the provider network using the Provider Directory.
Learn About Depression and Resources to Help
A Johns Hopkins Health Plans behavioral health care manager and health educator discuss signs, symptoms and treatment of depression, plus resources from your health plan and the community.
Other Resources
Your health care provider. One of your best resources to consult early, your health care provider knows you and is more likely to notice any changes in your mood or personality. They will be able to examine you and rule out any possible physical issues for your symptoms.
Community mental health centers. These organizations give counseling and other services on a sliding-fee scale, based on your income.
Crisis centers. On-site mental health professionals can provide immediate evaluation and treatment.
Support and self-help groups. Alcoholics Anonymous and the National Alliance on Mental Illness are examples of peer and family support groups that meet both online and in person.
Would you like support or to talk to someone about your emotional well-being? Contact our behavioral health care team to assist you with care coordination for substance abuse challenges, struggles with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.
Call: 800-557-6916
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Email: caremanagement@jhhp.org
(Please do not send any personal health information by email.)
You can opt out of Care Management services at any time by contacting us at 800-557-6916 or caremanagement@jhhp.org.
Request a call
