India, Oct. 10 -- October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day. It marks the importance of having open conversations around mental wellness. Often, the discourse that follows on this day also sheds light on reaching out to professional support. But how to identify when it may be the right time to seek help for mental health? Is it a mood, a passing phase or something deeper?

To understand the first signs, Ruchika Kanwal, founder and clinical psychologist at Anamkaaruh Therapy Care and Counselling, shared with HT Lifestyle that detecting subtle emotional, behavioural and physical changes early on can help people seek support before the distress turns into a full-blown crisis.

You don't have to hit rock bottom to ask for help. Often,...