Reasons for Occurrence of Mental Illness

The occurrence of mental illness can be caused bybeen closely associated with the Streptococcus
different factors or a combination of these severalbacteria, linked to the development of certain mental
factors. Different explanations are offered byillnesses in children.
different schools of thought, such as biological,Prenatal damage caused by disruption of early fetal
psychological or social explanations for causing mentalbrain development such as loss of oxygen to the
illness. Current theories however, have mostlybrain, may be a factor in the development certain
acknowledged that all three contribute in varyingmental illness. Other factors such as poor nutrition
amounts to a person's mental ill-health. Manyand exposure to toxins could also be responsible or
psychiatric diseases can be classified as syndromes,contributory to insanity.
or the association of several clinically recognizablePsychological explanations suggest that individual
features that do not always have a single cause.conflict, stress, crises, or traumatic experiences could
The currently most popular explanation for mentaltrigger mental illness in especially vulnerable individuals.
illness is biological explanations. It believes that aThe early loss of a significant person/s such as a
person suffering from mental illness may exhibit aparent; neglect; and the lack of ability to relate to
difference in brain structure or function or inothers may be other factors (See "Mental Health:
neurochemistry, either through genetic orCauses of Mental Illness").
environmental vulnerabilities. Research findings forSocial theorists suggest that mental illness may be
example, have shown that people with schizophreniacaused by the conditions of the person's
have enlarged ventricles and reduced gray matter inenvironment. For example, there has been significant
the brain. In addition, other studies have also foundfinding of higher incidences of psychological disorder in
that imbalance in neurotransmitters could also play aareas where people have suffered a major natural or
factor in causing mental illness. Studies have focusedman-made disaster. People involved in civil or military
on the neurotransmitters dopamine, nor epinephrine,actions have also shown higher occurrences of this
and serotonin. If these chemicals are out of balanceillness. Areas that are more affluent or stable may
or may not be working properly, messages sent tohave lesser probability of mental illness compared to
the brain may not be sent correctly leading toplaces that suffer from endemic poverty, few
symptoms of mental illness.resources and support.
Problems in mental conditions may also be caused byIn so far as major psychiatric disorders are
injury to certain areas of the brain.concerned, the nature versus nurture debate has
Moreover, many genetic studies have showed stronggenerally been settled. It has been widely accepted
evidence that mental illness can be inherited, such asthat both play an important role in the sufferer's life.
in the cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.It is has been known though, that mental illness is
Many mental illnesses have been found to run in aNOT caused by: weakness of character or
family, which suggests that people with a mentally illpersonality, or sinful behavior (although stress arising
family member are more likely to develop mentalfrom guilt may cause psychological disorder).
illness as well. Experts link mental illness toPsychiatric disorders may differ from one individual to
abnormalities in many genes, and not just one. It isanother. Degree may range from mild, severe, or
possible that a person who has inherited aanything in between. Symptoms can also vary even
susceptibility to this illness may not develop the illness.in one person over time --- from severe to complete
The occurrence of mental illness comes from theremission and back. Such incidence or "flare-ups" may
interaction of multiple genes and other factors suchbe triggered by stress or other factors.
as stress, traumatic event, or abuse, which canSymptoms usually vary and every person with
trigger an illness in a person who has inherited genesmental illness is different from one another. Arizona
susceptible to it.NAMI had developed a list of several warning signs of
Brain damage and the development of mental illnessmental illness. The presence of a single symptom
had also been found to have been caused by certaindoes not necessarily indicate mental illness but a
infections. For instance, a condition known as pediatricsevere symptom or multiple signs are strong
autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA) hasindication for a need to seek medical evaluation.