THE MOST IMPORTANT steps you can take are to recognize that your loved one has a mental health problem and to help him get treatment. That advice may sound obvious, but ignorance, suspicion, fear, embarrassment, and denial are serious handicaps for many people who are faced with this challenge. Even some health care providers who are unfamiliar with mental health topics may not recognize the seriousness of a patient's symptoms. These issues can lead to significant delays in treatment, which can make the illness more difficult to treat.