What are early warning signs?

Early warning signs refer specifically to the subtle indications that an individual's mental health may be deteriorating. Recognizing these signs allows peers and mental health professionals to intervene at an early stage, potentially preventing a full-blown crisis. These signs can include changes in behavior, mood swings, increased withdrawal, and other variations from the person's baseline functioning.

In contrast, clear indicators of success in recovery would typically reflect improvement and stabilization, not deterioration. Direct signs of a crisis would denote immediate and observable threats to safety, while positive feedback from peers is supportive but does not directly relate to the identification of early warning signs in the context of mental health. Understanding these early warning signs is vital for timely and effective support in the recovery process.