EXPERT REVEALS 5 WAYS TO TELL IF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS SUFFERING ...AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

SOME 42% of Irish adults have a mental health disorder, according to a 2022 survey.

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Here, Brian Back, counsellor at BetterHelp, shares five signs that your mental health may be suffering - and solutions to help you get back on track.

Changes in sleep

"If people start to struggle with sleep, or if it seems like however much they sleep, it just doesn't feel enough, those are signs they are having difficulty switching off their minds," Brian says.

"Not getting enough sleep can be an issue that drags us down - physically, emotionally and mentally."

Struggling to concentrate

"People often find it hard to focus because their mind is going everywhere. They can also feel a shaky feeling in their stomach, which further increases the difficulty to focus," Brian says.

"This is an important sign something is going on."

Mood swings and irritability

"All of these signs are connected. A lack of sleep can lead to mood swings and getting irritated," says Brian.

"As soon as our sleep starts to suffer, our mood starts to suffer and we're more likely to become irritable.