May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (PPI) provides behavioral health services to the residents of central Pennsylvania and the surrounding regions. We create specialized mental health treatment programs for children and adolescents, adults and mature adults so that the unique needs of each group can be addressed separately.
This year the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) continues to amplify their ”You Are Not Alone” message. This is a time we should prioritize mental health, focusing on connecting in safe ways. Even if you are in a good place mentally, when reaching out to friends and family, you can keep their best interests in mind by looking out for the symptoms below.
Warning Signs of Mental Illness:
- Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Trying to harm or end one’s life or making plans to do so
- Seeing, hearing or believing things that aren’t real
- Severe, out-of-control, risk-taking behavior that causes harm to self or others
- Excessive use of alcohol or drugs
- Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart, physical discomfort or difficulty breathing
- Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality or sleeping habits
- Extreme difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
If you or someone you know needs to seek assistance, please call our Admissions department at 866-746-2496 or (717) 782-6493.
If you are a person in need of immediate assistance, please go to your nearest Emergency Department or dial 911.