Medication for mental health problems
Medication can help us through a crisis or help us as a long-term treatment. Medication is able to help us treat or reduce the symptoms of your mental illness. Medication can even prevent mental health from coming back.
What types of medication are there?
There are four main types of medication for mental health problems.
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Anti-anxiety drugs – to help you feel calm or get to sleep if you have severe insomnia
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Antidepressants – usually for moderate to severe depression
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Anti-psychotics – to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis, and sometimes severe anxiety or bipolar disorder
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Mood stabilisers – to help you avoid extreme mood swings. You may be prescribed them for bipolar disorder
How long will i have suicidal thoughts?
How long suicidal thoughts last is different for everyone. It could happen just once or you could experience it for a period of time.
Accessing the right treatment and support is key including good self-care. Suicidal thoughts do pass like an emotion over time with the right support.