Where to Turn If You Have Mental Health Concerns

You’d go to a dentist for a toothache. For a legal issue, you’d call a lawyer. And if you needed your air conditioning repaired, you’d call an AC technician. The same is true of your well‑being: It’s important to seek professional resources and support when you have mental health concerns—whether that’s professional counseling and psychotherapy, in-person or virtual support groups, informational resources, or other means of support.

“Psychotherapy has been proven to alleviate symptoms for a range of psychological problems like depression and anxiety,” says Holly S. Katz, Ph.D., clinical and training director at the Faulk Center for Counseling in Boca Raton, Florida. Treatment may help your relationships, work and school productivity, physical health, and overall quality of life, she says.

And while family and friends may provide everyday support, they can’t help with every issue. Even if your support system is good, your friends and family likely aren’t professionally trained to address mental health concerns, says Marlisse Testa, a licensed mental health counselor in Boca Raton, Florida. “Or you simply may not want them to know your concerns for one reason or another. Professionals can help you get to the place you want to be,” she says.