2. Mental health conditions
Debt advisers are not trained to diagnose mental health problems. However, being aware of some of the common mental health conditions, as well as their causes and triggers, may help you to recognise when a client is in crisis and focus on symptoms and experiences of mental health problems rather than specific diagnoses.
The main mental illnesses can broadly be split into two categories: neurotic and psychotic.
The difference between neurotic behaviour and normal behaviour is intensity. Neurotic thoughts and behaviours can be so extreme that they interfere with a client’s life, personally and professionally.
Everyday situations are made worse because of these thoughts and behaviours, leading the client to blame themselves for being pessimistic and feeling negative. They may feel constantly irritated, sad, guilty, self-conscious, vulnerable or another negative emotion.
Neurotic behaviours may stem from mental health issues. A person with a neurotic personality may be more likely to have a condition such as generalised anxiety disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder.
A psychotic illness can cloud a person’s judgement, cause them to react emotionally, disrupt clear thinking, change the way they view reality and negatively affect the way they behave. It can lead to hallucinations or delusions.
Some people may experience a psychotic episode for a short period and, for others, it may be a long-term problem. Some people may not find it distressing, while for others it will significantly change their day-to-day life.
Severe psychotic symptoms can lead people to have problems staying in touch with reality or dealing with daily life, but usually the symptoms can be treated. People may experience psychosis as part of a mental illness such as severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, post-natal psychosis, delusional or paranoid disorder.
Note: not everyone with a mental health condition has a formal diagnosis, and those with a diagnosis might not agree with it. Diagnoses can also change over time. It is more useful for advisers to be aware of the symptoms, triggers and effects of clients’ mental health problems than specific diagnoses.