Anyone with an ongoing medical condition—including mental health disorders which might affect one's cognition—as well as those who take medications on a regular basis should consider using medical IDs. They can be invaluable, life-saving resources.
Medical IDs for Mental Health
The balance of mental health
Mental health is one of the most important aspects of overall wellbeing in a person. Mental health refers to the emotional, psychological, and social health of an individual. These factors can affect how well a person is able to relate to other people, make decisions and handle intense emotions such as stress and anxiety. Just like physical health, mental health can improve or worsen due to a variety of environmental and genetic causes and circumstances.
It is natural for mental health to fluctuate through the course of a person’s life. Just like how our physical health sometimes deteriorates due to illness or if our physical needs are not met, mental health can deteriorate if a person’s emotional, psychological, and social needs aren’t met. Human beings need to feel safe, stay intellectually stimulated, and have a sense of social belonging in order to remain mentally healthy.
Mental health conditions can be misinterpreted by first responders, law enforcement, or emergency personnel. Wearing a medical ID for mental health informs others about your mental health condition to help ensure that you receive proper care in an emergency.
An anxiety awareness bracelet, ADHD bracelet, depression bracelet, bipolar bracelet, schizophrenia bracelet, or other mental health awareness jewelry or medical IDs for mental health will allow medical and mental health staff to immediately receive your medical history and information about your mental health condition in the event of a crisis.
How MedicAlert protects those living with mental health challenges
One thing you shouldn’t worry about is what could happen if there’s an emergency. MedicAlert’s protection plans offer benefits that extend beyond the ID, providing safety and peace of mind for people living with mental health conditions, their families and caregivers.
24/7 Emergency Response
Our team provides first responders the information they need to provide fast, accurate care.
Digital Health Profile
All your vital information, all in one place for you and your caregiver.
Emergency Contact Notification
In an emergency, we connect families so that no one is alone in a crisis.
Patient Instructions
Share the information that’s important to your care, such as use of rescue medications or contraindication for tests like MRIs.
Pair a medical ID for mental health with the protection plan that’s right for you.
Signs of mental health issues
Some possible indications of poor mental health include a feeling of emotional numbness, low energy, a sudden disinterest in activities you typically enjoy, mood swings, or a feeling of irritation that won’t go away. Everyone experiences symptoms of poor mental health occasionally, but if you experience these symptoms over a longer period of time you should consider seeing a mental health professional to help your mental health get back on track.
Some mental health symptoms, however, are more long-lasting than just periods of poorer mental health. These are known as mental health conditions or mental health disorders and can seriously affect a person’s everyday life. There are a wide variety of mental health conditions, and each is associated with different symptoms and treatments.
What are some different mental health conditions?
Mental health conditions affect a diverse range of mental factors. Some of the main categories of mental health conditions include:
- Anxiety disorders, which affect how people handle stress and anxiety
- Mood disorders, which affect emotional regulation
- Psychotic disorders, which involve distorted awareness and thinking
- Personality disorders, which affect a person’s ability to regulate personality traits in a manner detrimental to everyday life
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which involve persistent thoughts or fears that cause repetitive behaviors
- Eating disorders, which involve a person’s relationship with food
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can develop following a traumatic event
Common mental health conditions include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Mental health disorders also include chronic brain disorders, such as schizophrenia.
The exact causes of mental health conditions are not known for certain by medical professionals and vary depending on the condition. Contributing causes to the development of mental health conditions include biological factors such as an imbalance of the hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain, as well as infections, brain trauma, and prenatal damage. Genetic factors also play a role in a person’s overall mental health as well as their likelihood of developing a mental health condition.
Psychological factors also play a major role in contributing to the development of a mental health condition. Psychological trauma during childhood, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse by a parent, adult or peers can result in the development of a mental health condition later in life. The psychological harm of suffering a loss early in life such as the death of a parent or loved one can also contribute to a mental health condition, as well as parental neglect or not having social needs met by peers.
Environmental factors such as acute sources of stress can also contribute to the development of a mental health condition, such as a poor family life, self-esteem issues, chronic loneliness, a sudden change in social environment such as by moving, changing jobs, or attending a new school. The cultural and social environment in which a person lives can affect their mental health and lead to the development of a mental health condition as well. Finally, substance abuse or the use of any mind-altering drugs can lead to the development of a mental health condition.
What to engrave on medical IDs for mental health:
MedicAlert offers free custom engraving on all our mental health bracelets and medical ID products. The engraving on your medical ID for mental health should include any critical medical information that can protect and save your life if you are in an accident or have a medical emergency, for example:
- Mental health conditions
- Medical conditions
- Medications
- Allergies
- Implanted devices
- Any medical information that needs to be communicated to first responders
Sample engraving. Consult our team if you need help engraving your medical ID for mental health.
How can a mental health condition affect your life?
Living with a mental health condition can make life challenging in multiple ways. Mental health conditions can make it difficult to perform necessary functions in everyday life and live up to societal expectations. Different mental health conditions present different challenges for individuals. Anxiety disorders can make it highly difficult to cope with the stresses and emotional ups and downs of daily life, while mood disorders can affect a person’s motivation and ability to connect with others. Personality disorders make it challenging to work and interact with others in a cooperative and social setting, and chronic brain disorders can present a variety of psychological symptoms such as speech impairment and hallucinations.
Mental health conditions usually involve long-term symptoms, but acute and sudden onsets of more severe symptoms can also occur. These vary depending on the type of mental health condition. Examples of sudden episodes of more severe symptoms related to mental health conditions include panic attacks, a sudden plummet in mood and will to live, or a sudden shift into an extremely aggressive or angry mood.
When living with a mental health condition, it’s vitally important that you seek treatment from a mental health professional. Treatments for mental health conditions typically involve therapy, medication, or a mixture of the two. Being aware of your mental health condition and how the symptoms that you may experience will also help you to navigate work and social challenges in a way that takes your mental health condition into account.
It’s also important that medical and mental health experts can receive your medical background and health information in case you require medical attention due to a sudden onset or worsening of symptoms. That’s where a medical ID for mental health comes into play.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental illness.
How medical IDs for mental health combined with MedicAlert Membership provide protection and peace of mind
- We’re your voice: If you can’t speak for yourself due to a mental health episode or other emergency, your mental health bracelet ID will speak for you – informing others about your mental health challenges and any medications you’re taking.
- 24/7 emergency protection: In an emergency, the MedicAlert team will relay all of your critical medical information to first responders, no matter where or when your emergency happens.
- Always connected: You should never be alone in an emergency. That’s why MedicAlert will reach out to your designated contacts if you are unable to do so.
- Live with peace of mind and confidence: MedicAlert will be there for you every step of the way. You’ll have the confidence and freedom to live your life with mental health conditions, knowing we’ve got you covered.
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information in this article is presented for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.