Generally speaking, mental illness refers to a huge range of conditions that can impact someone’s behaviors, moods and thoughts. Some mental illness disorders are temporary and mild, while others can be chronic and severe that may lead to mental health problems. For some people, mental illness is not something that they have to work to maintain, but for some it can be a lifelong challenge that requires constant effort and attention.
In many cases, mental illness can negatively impact an individual’s life, as well as the lives of those with whom he or she interacts. It may make daily tasks, relationships and normal functioning difficult or even impossible. When signs and symptoms appear, it is important to reach out for help, as therapy, mental health treatment and/or medications can be a pathway to wellness for many people. Interested in what causes mental illness and whether or not it can be prevented? Read on for more information.
Some types of mental illnesses that are identified are: anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorders, affective disorders, mood disorders, emotional disorders, dissociative disorders, depressive disorders, impulse control disorders, personality disorder, major depression disorder, panic disorder, manic depression, self harm, substance use disorder, emotional disorder, split personality disorders, conduct disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, clinically significant disturbance, dissociative disorders, multiple personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, neurodevelopmental disorders, severe disturbances and post traumatic stress dissociative disorders found in the diagnostic and statistical manual.
What Causes Mental Health Illness?
While the exact cause of mental illness is not completely understood and can be extremely difficult to pin down, there are some factors that may play a role in whether or not someone develops a mental illness condition. Keep in mind that everyone is different and may not develop mental illness even if they have the following risk factors.
Genetics
The research is still out on whether or not genetics are completely to blame when it comes to mental health disorders, but family history is a contributing risk factor for many individuals. Some experts believe that mental health disorders may be linked to abnormalities in several different genes rather than just one single gene. How those genes interact with other life factors, such as trauma or stress, may be what triggers mental health disorder in someone who has inherited susceptibility.
Brain Chemistry
Everyone has neurotransmitters which are chemicals in the brain that are responsible for carrying messages to the body and within the brain. An imbalance in these chemicals can reduce the function of the brain and may be the cause of some mental conditions. For example, people with depression may be lacking one or more of the following three neurotransmitters: dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin. Medications that can treat depression often work by rebalancing these chemicals in the brain, often by supplementing a synthetic version.
Environmental Exposures
Babies in the womb who are exposed to toxins, drugs, alcohol or other environmental stressors may be at an increased risk of developing mental illness. If a baby’s brain development is disrupted by one or more of the previously mentioned substances or even a loss of oxygen, it may prevent normal brain development and lead to mental illness issues down the road.
Substance Abuse
Drugs and alcohol are known to cause plenty of issues for users, but long-term dependency can cause the development of mental illness disorders. For example, long-term abuse has been shown to cause depression, paranoia and anxiety disorder in some people. Someone who is already at risk for mental illness, perhaps due to family history, may find that a condition is triggered by substance abuse.
Brain Injury
The relationship between a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mental illness is very complex, but there is sometimes a connection. When someone experiences a TBI, he or she may suffer from debilitating symptoms that follow, including dizziness, pain and changes in mood. There may also be a development of depression, anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though that may be caused by emotions related to the experience itself or the loss of lifestyle rather than the injury to the brain.
Childhood Trauma
Unfortunately, things that occurred when someone was a child may have an impact later in life, even if he or she is away from that stressful environment. Childhood physical, emotional or sexual abuse has been linked to mental illness and may play a role in whether or not a mental disorder develops later on.
Current Environment
The environment in which someone lives can also play a role in developing mental illness disorders. High-stress living situations, such as poverty or an abusive home life, can be a mental disorder trigger for many people.
Can Mental Health Illness Be Prevented?
With these contributing factors in mind, you may be wondering if it is possible to prevent serious mental illness. After all, most of these risk factors are outside of an individual’s control and everyone will react differently. Preventing serious mental illness problems from developing, from getting worse or from coming back is the goal for many people.
In many cases, complete prevention is not possible once mental illness conditions have already started to develop. However, there are a few things that can be done to try and prevent mental illness from completely overtaking a person’s life, or at least to try to stop it from recurring if possible by mental health treatment.
Primary Prevention
In order to stop serious mental illness before it starts, primary prevention is key. This method focuses on raising awareness and promoting good mental illness for the entire community. For example, schools that implement mental wellness education teach early on how important it is to take care of all aspects of an individual’s well-being. Other examples may include suicide prevention education, anti-stigma campaigns or self-care training. The hope is that primary prevention can help those who are already at risk reach out before serious mental illness becomes a bigger concern in their lives.
Secondary Prevention
Those who are at a higher risk for developing serious mental illness conditions need support and that comes in the form of secondary prevention. They may have been born into circumstances that place them at a higher risk or they may have had life experiences that could lead in that direction. For example, supporting those in the LGBTQ+ community may prevent those individuals from feeling alone or isolated, which could lead to serious mental illness.
Tertiary Prevention
If someone has already experienced serious mental illness, all hope is not loss for future prevention. This method is designed to help mentally ill individuals maintain mental well-being and enjoy quality of life, even when dealing with chronic conditions. This typically involves assistance with alleviating symptoms, improving overall wellness and reducing recurrence of crisis situations, when possible.
Mental Wellness Tips
For most people, preventing mental illness means improving and maintaining overall wellness through healthy lifestyle decisions. This may not always be enough to completely avoid mental illness issues, especially if there are already several risk factors at play, but it can be a good way to put preventative measures in place that can be accessed, no matter one’s mental state.
- Talk to someone. If possible, find a therapist who you feel comfortable working with. This can provide you with the support you need to feel less alone.
- Eat as well as possible. Aim for a nutritious, balanced diet as often as possible.
- Improve your sleep. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Poor sleeping habits are linked to mental illness.
- Stay active. You don’t have to grind it out at the gym every day, but moving your body is good for your mind.
- Reach out to friends. Build a support system and provide that same support for others.
- Practice mindfulness. Focus on being present and engaged with each moment.
- Give service. Look outside of yourself for others who may need your help.
These small, everyday practices can give you a feeling of control over your mind and body, even if you’re currently struggling with your mental illness.
Let Davis Behavioral Health Help
Want to learn more about mental illness or find help for yourself or someone you love? Contact Davis Behavioral Health today. We offer a range of services for Davis County residents of all ages, including mental health services, talk therapy, groups, mental health professionals, family physicians and classes. Good mental illness is important for individuals, but it also impacts families, communities and society as a whole. Gain a better understanding of your own mental well-being and find out how you can help others who may be struggling.
