How to spot and help someone in a mental health crisis
Experts wish more people spotted the signs earlier: feeling overwhelmed, not feeling “like yourself,” shifts in sleep, behavior and mood. The United States has a mental health problem, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. More young people, especially girls, are reporting poor mental health. And while the national suicide rate fell slightly in 2024, it did so from one of its highest levels ever reported. Mental health crises can happen abruptly or build to a tipping point over time. They can be fueled by a sudden loss or traumatic event, personal or societal upheaval, underlying