Children & teens
A child keeps missing instructions.
A teen stops joining in.
Alcohol and drug withdrawal: signs and help →
FREE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Make sense of behavior
in everyday life.
What changed? What could it mean? What can you do?
Choose a situation. Listen or read. You do not need to know a medical word.
One behavior can have several causes. These examples help you notice a problem and ask for help.
Introductory examples across 15 areas of behavioral health. They do not cover every condition or replace an assessment.
Where would you like to start?
Choose from Children & teens. Behavior & legal questions. Older adults & memory. Alcohol & drugs at home. How the brain & body affect behavior. Sleep & daytime behavior. Changes in personality or thinking. Mood around periods, pregnancy & birth. Support when life is hard. When usual treatment is not enough. When someone may be unsafe. College & young-adult life. Culture, language & understanding. Care, privacy & legal rights. When physical illness affects mood or behavior. Tap an area to hear or see examples.
Behavior & legal questions
Someone says a diagnosis excuses harm.
A family is asked for a court opinion.
Older adults & memory
An older person suddenly seems confused.
Memory problems affect everyday tasks.
Alcohol & drugs at home
Drinking is taking over daily life.
Someone becomes unwell after stopping alcohol.
How the brain & body affect behavior
Poor sleep changes how someone acts.
A person briefly stops responding.
Sleep & daytime behavior
Loud snoring and daytime sleepiness.
Very little sleep, but lots of energy.
Changes in personality or thinking
A person’s usual judgment changes.
Words suddenly stop making sense.
Mood around periods, pregnancy & birth
Severe mood changes repeat before periods.
A new parent is confused or hearing voices.
Support when life is hard
Money or housing problems block care.
A person needs more than one kind of help.
When usual treatment is not enough
Depression continues despite treatment.
The doctor mentions ECT or TMS.
When someone may be unsafe
Someone says they want to die.
Someone is frightened and very confused.
College & young-adult life
A student stops coping with daily life.
Food or body worries take over.
Culture, language & understanding
A family’s beliefs are being misunderstood.
A language difference looks like confusion.
Care, privacy & legal rights
A person does not understand a care decision.
A family is unsure who can see records.
When physical illness affects mood or behavior
Mood changes after a serious illness.
Behavior changes during a hospital stay.
Choose an area above, then try one short example.
Children & teens
What is this field called?
Child and adolescent psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
A child keeps missing instructions
What you notice
At home and school, a child often loses things, cannot finish tasks, or acts before thinking.
What it could mean
Attention problems can have different causes. ADHD is one possibility. Sleep, worry, and learning problems also need checking.
What to do next
Ask the child’s doctor and teacher about the pattern. Say when it started and where it happens. Avoid calling the child lazy.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A teen stops joining in
What you notice
A teen avoids friends, sleeps differently, and loses interest in things they enjoyed. This continues.
What it could mean
Depression, worry, stress, or other problems may be involved. A quiet day alone does not explain the pattern.
What to do next
Ask how they are feeling. Arrange help from their doctor or a mental-health professional who works with young people.
When help is urgent
If they talk about suicide or harming someone, seek help now.
Behavior & legal questions
What is this field called?
Forensic psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Someone says a diagnosis excuses harm
What you notice
After hurting someone, a person says, “My diagnosis means I cannot be responsible.”
What it could mean
Mental health and legal responsibility are different questions. A label does not settle a legal case.
What to do next
Focus on safety. A qualified legal adviser and, when needed, a forensic specialist can address the legal questions.
When help is urgent
If someone is threatening or hurting you now, move toward safety and call emergency help.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A family is asked for a court opinion
What you notice
A relative has a mental-health condition. Someone asks the family to decide whether the relative can take part in a court case.
What it could mean
A family’s observations may help. A formal legal or mental-health assessment is a separate process.
What to do next
Ask the lawyer what assessment is needed. Share what you actually saw, when it happened, and how the person usually acts.
Older adults & memory
What is this field called?
Geriatric psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
An older person suddenly seems confused
What you notice
Yesterday they followed a conversation. Today they are confused, unusually sleepy, or seeing things.
What it could mean
A sudden change can be delirium: confusion from a medical problem. Do not assume it is normal aging or a personality problem.
What to do next
Get urgent medical assessment. Tell the team what changed and when. Bring their medicine list if available.
When help is urgent
Call emergency services if confusion starts suddenly, they are hard to wake, or other emergency signs appear.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Memory problems affect everyday tasks
What you notice
Over time, a person repeats questions and struggles with familiar daily tasks.
What it could mean
Memory problems can have several causes. Dementia is one possibility; illness, mood, or medicine effects may also matter.
What to do next
Arrange a doctor’s visit. Describe specific changes. Ask about support for the person and the caregiver.
Alcohol & drugs at home
What is this field called?
Addiction psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Drinking is taking over daily life
What you notice
A person keeps drinking despite family or work problems. They have tried to cut down but cannot.
What it could mean
This may be an alcohol-use problem. It needs understanding and care, not shame.
What to do next
Ask a doctor or treatment service about support. If they drink heavily and regularly, get medical advice before stopping suddenly.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Someone becomes unwell after stopping alcohol
What you notice
After heavy regular drinking, a person stops or cuts down and becomes shaky or very unwell.
What it could mean
Their body may be reacting to alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal can become dangerous.
What to do next
Seek medical care promptly. A doctor can help make withdrawal safer. Do not try to manage severe withdrawal alone.
When help is urgent
Seizures, severe confusion, or seeing things after stopping alcohol need emergency medical help.
How the brain & body affect behavior
What is this field called?
Neurophysiology
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Poor sleep changes how someone acts
What you notice
After nights of poor sleep, someone struggles to pay attention and becomes more irritable.
What it could mean
Sleep helps the brain manage attention and emotions. A sleep problem can affect behavior. It is not proof of a personality disorder.
What to do next
Ask about sleep as well as feelings. If the change continues, tell a doctor about both.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A person briefly stops responding
What you notice
A person has repeated brief spells of staring and does not answer. Later, they seem unaware of the spell.
What it could mean
Some seizures can look like a brief loss of awareness. Other causes are possible. It may not be deliberate ignoring.
What to do next
Arrange medical assessment. Describe what you saw and how long it lasted. A clinician may check the brain’s electrical activity.
When help is urgent
For a first suspected seizure, a prolonged spell, breathing trouble, or failure to recover, call emergency services.
Sleep & daytime behavior
What is this field called?
Sleep medicine
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Loud snoring and daytime sleepiness
What you notice
Someone snores loudly, gasps during sleep, and feels sleepy or struggles to focus during the day.
What it could mean
Sleep apnea is one possible cause. Breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. A sleep check can help identify it.
What to do next
Tell a doctor about the snoring, breathing, and daytime problems. Ask whether a sleep study is needed.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Very little sleep, but lots of energy
What you notice
Someone barely sleeps yet feels full of energy. Their thoughts race and their behavior is very different.
What it could mean
This differs from feeling tired after a bad night. It can occur in mania, but needs assessment.
What to do next
Contact a doctor promptly. Describe the change from their usual sleep and behavior. Get urgent help if they cannot stay safe.
Changes in personality or thinking
What is this field called?
Behavioral neurology
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
A person’s usual judgment changes
What you notice
Over months, a person’s behavior becomes very unlike them. They make unusual decisions or say things they would not have said before.
What it could mean
Brain conditions can change judgment and personality. Other explanations also need checking. Do not decide the cause from one argument.
What to do next
Arrange medical assessment. Bring examples of changes from their usual self. A doctor may refer them to a brain specialist.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Words suddenly stop making sense
What you notice
Someone suddenly cannot speak clearly or understand you. Their face or arm may also become weak.
What it could mean
This could be a stroke, a medical emergency. Do not assume they are drunk, rude, or mentally unwell.
What to do next
Call emergency services right away. Note when the change began. Even symptoms that go away need urgent help.
When help is urgent
In the U.S., call 911 now for sudden speech trouble, confusion, or one-sided weakness.
Mood around periods, pregnancy & birth
What is this field called?
Women’s mental health
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Severe mood changes repeat before periods
What you notice
Strong sadness, anger, or worry repeatedly appears before periods and disrupts daily life.
What it could mean
Mood conditions linked to the menstrual cycle are one possibility. Timing helps a clinician understand the pattern.
What to do next
Tell a doctor when the changes happen. You can keep simple notes or ask someone to help. Do not dismiss the distress as “just hormones.”
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A new parent is confused or hearing voices
What you notice
After childbirth, a parent seems confused, unusually excited, or hears or believes things others do not.
What it could mean
Postpartum psychosis is one possible cause. It is a medical emergency, not something to wait out.
What to do next
Get emergency medical help now. Ask a trusted adult to help keep the parent and baby safe while help arrives.
When help is urgent
Call emergency services or go to an emergency department now.
Support when life is hard
What is this field called?
Public and community psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Money or housing problems block care
What you notice
Someone wants help, but cannot afford it or does not have a steady place to live.
What it could mean
Practical problems can make distress worse and make care hard to reach. Support may need to address both.
What to do next
Ask a community clinic or social worker about mental-health care, costs, housing, and other support.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A person needs more than one kind of help
What you notice
A person is struggling with both mental health and substance use. Their family does not know which service to call.
What it could mean
These needs can happen together. A coordinated service can help people find the next step.
What to do next
Ask a community behavioral-health clinic about help for both needs. You can also use the treatment-service finder.
When usual treatment is not enough
What is this field called?
Interventional psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Depression continues despite treatment
What you notice
A person has tried treatment with their care team but is still struggling badly.
What it could mean
The team may discuss other options, including brain-stimulation treatments. It does not mean the person has failed.
What to do next
Ask what has been tried, what the next option is, and what benefits and risks matter for this person. Do not change medicines on your own.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
The doctor mentions ECT or TMS
What you notice
A family hears unfamiliar treatment names and feels frightened.
What it could mean
ECT uses an electrical treatment under anesthesia. TMS uses magnetic pulses. These are different procedures offered for specific conditions.
What to do next
Ask for a simple explanation: Why this treatment? What are the risks, including memory effects for ECT? What else could we try?
When someone may be unsafe
What is this field called?
Emergency psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Someone says they want to die
What you notice
A person talks about suicide, makes a plan, or says they cannot stay safe.
What it could mean
This is a sign to act now. You do not need to work out a diagnosis first.
What to do next
Take it seriously. In the U.S., call or text 988 for crisis support. If there is immediate danger or an attempt, call 911.
When help is urgent
If it is safe, stay with them while help is arranged. Do not put yourself in danger.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Someone is frightened and very confused
What you notice
A person seems unable to tell what is real and becomes very distressed or unsafe.
What it could mean
A mental-health crisis or a medical problem may be involved. Do not try to settle the cause in an argument.
What to do next
Use a calm voice. Give them space. Call for urgent help if they cannot stay safe. Describe the behavior you can see.
When help is urgent
If there is immediate danger, call emergency services. Avoid trying to physically restrain the person yourself.
College & young-adult life
What is this field called?
College mental health
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
A student stops coping with daily life
What you notice
A student keeps missing classes, avoids people, and feels overwhelmed much of the time.
What it could mean
Stress, anxiety, depression, or other difficulties may be involved. The lasting pattern matters more than one missed class.
What to do next
Contact the campus counseling or health service, or a local doctor. Ask what support is available for study as well as health.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Food or body worries take over
What you notice
A student skips meals, makes themselves vomit, or feels unable to stop episodes of eating.
What it could mean
These may be signs of an eating disorder. It can affect physical health and needs proper assessment.
What to do next
Seek medical and mental-health help. Do not judge the seriousness only by how the person looks.
Culture, language & understanding
What is this field called?
Global and cultural psychology
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
A family’s beliefs are being misunderstood
What you notice
A person describes spiritual or cultural beliefs that a health worker does not recognize.
What it could mean
An unfamiliar belief alone does not establish illness. Its meaning, the person’s usual life, distress, and safety need context.
What to do next
Explain what the belief means in that person’s community. Ask the clinician to consider culture and the whole situation.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A language difference looks like confusion
What you notice
A person cannot follow a medical conversation in a language they do not know well.
What it could mean
A communication barrier can be mistaken for a thinking problem. New confusion still needs checking.
What to do next
Ask for a qualified interpreter and simple explanations. Share the person’s usual language and communication needs.
Care, privacy & legal rights
What is this field called?
Legislative and policy issues
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
A person does not understand a care decision
What you notice
Someone is told they must accept treatment but does not understand the reason or the rules.
What it could mean
Clinical needs and legal rules both matter. Rules about consent and care differ by place and situation.
What to do next
Ask for the reason in simple words. Ask how to contact a patient advocate or local legal-help service. For urgent danger, get help first.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
A family is unsure who can see records
What you notice
A relative wants medical information but is unsure what can be shared.
What it could mean
Privacy rules and permission matter. Being family does not settle every question. Rules vary by jurisdiction.
What to do next
Ask the care team to explain the local privacy rules and how permission works. In the U.S., HHS explains privacy complaints.
When physical illness affects mood or behavior
What is this field called?
Consultation-liaison psychiatry
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 1
Mood changes after a serious illness
What you notice
After a health diagnosis, a person feels hopeless, loses interest, or struggles with sleep and daily tasks.
What it could mean
The illness, emotional strain, medicines, or depression may contribute. Physical and mental health both need attention.
What to do next
Tell the medical team about the mood changes. Ask how mental-health care can work alongside treatment for the illness.
EVERYDAY EXAMPLE 2
Behavior changes during a hospital stay
What you notice
A patient suddenly becomes confused, very sleepy, or unlike their usual self.
What it could mean
This may be delirium from illness or treatment. A quiet, sleepy change can matter as much as agitation.
What to do next
Tell the nurse or doctor right away. Say, “This is different from their usual self.” Ask the team to check possible medical causes.
When help is urgent
Do not wait for a routine mental-health appointment when the change is sudden.
Notice the change. Describe it simply.
“This is different from how they usually act.”
“It started yesterday.” Or: “It has been happening for weeks.”
“It is affecting sleep, school, work, or safety.”
Tell a health worker what you noticed. You do not have to name the condition.