No one wants to admit they might need help with a mental health problem. Whether they’re discouraged by what their friends or family might think or by the negative stigma that tends to surround any mention of mental health, the fact remains that it’s a difficult subject to broach for many people.

If you want to learn about mental health, have a loved one you’re concerned about or have questions about your own mental wellness, here are a few easy and stress-free ways to start addressing mental health.

1. Take An Online Quiz (Or Several)

We’ve all probably taken more than a few online quizzes — they tell us what mythical creature we are inside or how old we are based on our musical preferences. They can be fun, but they can also be useful tools for addressing mental health problems.

Mental health sites often have quizzes you can take to help you identify certain characteristics. Don’t look at these as a diagnosis. Instead, look for a site that provides you with information you can take to your healthcare provider and questions to ask when you make an appointment.

2. Read Other People’s Stories

With the negative stigma that surrounds mental illness, it can be easy to feel like you’re the only one going through this or that no one will understand what’s happening to you. That is why the internet can be such an amazing tool for mental health — it provides you with a place you can learn more about mental illness and see how other people are coping with it.

Online forums and websites like The Mighty are useful sources of first-hand accounts of mental illness and individual experiences with it. Sometimes all you need is someone to tell you that you’re not alone or to show you that there is someone else out there who is going though the same thing you are.

These sites can be a good source for treatment stories as well — people telling their good or bad stories about mental health treatments and how they worked, or didn’t work, for them. It can also give you a good idea of the kind of insurance information you might need to know before seeking help. Changing health coverage laws can be confusing, especially when it’s not clear how it might affect you personally, so any information you can gather is always helpful.

3. Keep a List of Questions

Have you ever had some questions for your doctor only to walk into the office and end up pulling a total blank? We understand your pain. That’s why we suggest keeping a notepad with you — or a memo on your phone if you prefer to do things digital — with any questions that come to your mind.

Do you have questions about different types of medication? Write it down.

Are you terrified by the idea of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? Write it down and let your doctor know. They can explain things to you better than any website ever will.

You can also use this notepad to keep track of your mood, changes in your behavior or the days you don’t feel like getting out of bed. Even if you don’t have a doctor yet, writing all this down can help you track your own mental health so you have a better idea of when you might need to ask for help.

Keep in mind that if you do decide to talk to a doctor, all of this information is perfect to help them set a baseline and work with you to create the ideal treatment plan.

Mental health is an important part of everyone’s life, whether they suffer from a mental illness or not. If you have questions about mental illness, for yourself or someone you love, there are a plethora of resources available both online and off to help answer your questions.

If you run across a question you can’t find a reliable answer to, write them down and ask a professional — most are more than happy to answer your questions, if for no other reason than to make sure that you have reliable information.

Collect information, make informed decisions and know that no matter what you choose to do, you are not alone.