Supporting Your Mental Health
The help you need and deserve is one call away. Mental health (or behavioral health) is as real and important as physical health, and both can affect each other. Receive confidential support from a licensed clinical social worker if you have a mental health or substance use disorder concern. A behavioral health clinician can help you navigate your treatment needs. Choosing to get help for a mental health condition can be difficult, but it’s an act of courage that’s important to your overall health.
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Supporting Your Mental Health
Mental health and physical health go hand in hand. The well-being of your mental health, or behavioral health, can affect the health of your body. Choosing to get help for a mental condition can be difficult, but it’s an act of courage that’s important to your overall health.
Behavioral health conditions cover a broad range of challenges, many of which are shared by many people in differing degrees. Some common behavioral health conditions include:
- ADD-ADHD
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Stress and anxiety
- Substance abuse
Just as there are differences between people, there are different causes for behavioral health conditions. They can be due to abnormal brain chemistry, traumatic events or environments, substance misuse or even genetics — a condition passed down through the family. Whatever the reason, having a behavioral health condition is not the fault of the person who is suffering.
Symptoms
So how can you recognize when you or a loved one needs help? Symptoms of common behavioral issues can include:
- Feeling unable to cope with your day-to-day problems, work assignments, or usual household activities
- Rapid mood swings, from extreme highs to desperate lows
- Frequent or increasing misuse of drugs or alcohol
- Difficulty coping with day-to-day problems, work projects or daily household activities
- Violent outbursts or angry behavior
- A sense of helplessness or overwhelming deep or sudden sadness or hopelessness
- Decreased involvement with people or participation in normal activities
- Imagining voices that aren’t there or believing things that aren’t true
- Persistent disruptive thoughts or memories
- Recurring thoughts about suicide or hurting other people
- Putting together an actual plan to commit suicide
Early treatment for you or someone you care about is key to making positive, lasting progress. If you notice any of these symptoms, they are warning signs that help is needed.
Symptoms
So how can you recognize when you or a loved one needs help? Symptoms of common behavioral issues can include:
- Feeling unable to cope with your day-to-day problems, work assignments, or usual household activities
- Rapid mood swings, from extreme highs to desperate lows
- Frequent or increasing misuse of drugs or alcohol
- Difficulty coping with day-to-day problems, work projects or daily household activities
- Violent outbursts or angry behavior
- A sense of helplessness or overwhelming deep or sudden sadness or hopelessness
- Decreased involvement with people or participation in normal activities
- Imagining voices that aren’t there or believing things that aren’t true
- Persistent disruptive thoughts or memories
- Recurring thoughts about suicide or hurting other people
- Putting together an actual plan to commit suicide
Early treatment for you or someone you care about is key to making positive, lasting progress. If you notice any of these symptoms, they are warning signs that help is needed.
Take Action
Behavioral health issues can be very personal and often carry the false impression of weakness. Asking for help takes courage, and taking charge of your health takes strength. You wouldn’t ignore a heart condition, so you shouldn’t avoid treatment for a mental health concern.
Emergencies
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 9-8-8. 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. (Johns Hopkins Health Plans’ contract with Uplift currently covers members in MD, VA, FL and Washington DC. We continue our efforts to expand coverage to all states where UpLift has a presence. Please check back routinely for an expanded list and updates.)
Find a mental health provider:
Search the provider network using the Provider Directory.
If you have any questions, contact the Care Management Department at 800-557-6916, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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.
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.)
Other Resources
Your health care provider. One of the best early resources is your health care provider. They know you and likely will notice any changes in your mood or personality and can also rule out any possible physical issues causing 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.
You can opt out of Care Management services at any time by contacting us at 800-557-6916 or caremanagement@jhhp.org.
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