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If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, know that you are not alone. According to Mental Health America, just over 23% of adults in the U.S. experienced a mental illness in 2023. That’s around 60 million people. 5.86% experienced a severe mental illness.

Nicholas Axcell is a counselling expert and Head of International Development for The Harmony Hospital Group, which runs boutique psychiatric hospital, Palm Tree Clinic. He kindly agreed to chat to Bored Panda to give some advice to anyone who currently feels like they aren't coping, or is worried about a friend or family member struggling with their mental health.

Axcell says some of the signs you might need to seek professional help include battling to handle the daily demands of life, changes in behaviour, other people noticing strange behavior or uncharacteristic behavior, changes in your routine, signs of paranoia, depression or extreme mood swings.

Bored Panda asked Axcell if medication is always necessary, or whether counselling alone can suffice. "Definitely medication helps at times, but we treat our clients holistically," he told us.

"This means medication might be part of treatment but so is therapy in groups and individually. Activities such as therapeutic writing, yoga, equine therapy and learning new skills to emotionally regulate and cope better are all important parts of someone getting back on track."

Unlike a medical hospital, a psychiatric hospital, ward or clinic, is dedicated solely to mental healthcare. There are teams of specialists that work with patients to help them to manage their mental health. Often, those admitted will stay for a few weeks or even months in serious cases.

We asked Axcell what someone should expect if or when they are admitted to a psychiatric hospital... "The first part is assessing," he told us. "Helping them to settle and stabilise. Patients are often very unstable in admission. They'll have sessions with a doctor, nurse, therapist, and psychiatrist."

Naturally, many people are scared or hesitant to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. "People with mental health conditions can fear being away from their usual environment and routines, or not having total control over their daily lives for the time they are an inpatient," notes carehome.co.uk. "Others may be nervous about the other inpatients, while many older people are still influenced by the stigma of the old asylums and sanitoriums."

It's important to remember the psychiatric hospitals are meant to be safe spaces, which are there to help you heal and get better. "Your mental health is so important and there is help and support available for you," said a former psych patient known as Lucy.

"There are teams of professionals out there who care deeply about you and want to ensure you are safe. If you are in crisis, please reach out to your GP as well as your local crisis team."

Lucy was admitted to a British psychiatric ward just before Christmas in 2020. She says it wasn't always easy but her stay definitely helped her. “I found some of the professionals within the crisis team to be wonderful, compassionate professionals who never make you feel like you are a burden," she told Care Homes.

"Don’t feel as though it is hopeless and not worth bothering with. If your mental illness has deteriorated, then it requires attention just as importantly as your physical health."

Axcell tells Bored Panda each patient is different. Some complete their stay in the psych hospital and find themselves equipped enough to face the world outside. Others return for further treatment.