What Causes Mental Illness?

The specific cause of mental illness is still widely debated. The truth is the mind is one of the most complex objects in the natural world. Because of its complex nature, it is logical to assume that how it functions and why it functions the way it does is just as complicated, if not more so. Moreover, since the human mind is so intricate, it is very unlikely that just one single thing can be identified as the cause of mental health problems. Rather, countless researchers now agree that it is much more likely that an assortment of diverse factors can help create such problems in the mind (The Kim Foundation, 2006). It is also important to note that it is believed that each person suffering from mental illness has his/her own set of different factors and that just because an individual has experienced similar factors as a mentally ill person, it does not automatically mean that he/she will develop a mental illness. However, when a person is affected by a variety of elements that have been known to help contribute to mental health problems, certain combinations of these factors may become too much for an individual's mind to handle and could eventually cause one or more mental problems for this person (The Kim Foundation, 2006; The Surgeon General, n.d.).

Divison of Factors: Psycological, Biological & Sociological

The U.S. Surgeon General divides the elements that may contribute to mental illness into three types: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. First, let us examine the first type: psychological factors. Fundamentally, these factors encompass anything within the human mind that tends to influence how we feel or think. Things such as your personality or past experiences can vastly affect how you perceive yourself or the rest of the world. Therefore, if such factors prove to be too negative or damaging, they may make an individual much more susceptible to mental illness (The Kim Foundation, 2006; The Surgeon General, n.d.).

Next, I will give a brief overview of another kind of influences that may help cause mental illness: biological factors. Simply, these factors are made up of anything that occurs physically within the body that could alter the normal functioning of the human mind. Certain things such as poor nutrition, brain damage, and defective genes are excellent examples of biological elements that have been recognized as possible contributors to mental illness in countless individuals (The Kim Foundation, 2006; The Surgeon General, n.d.).

Finally, we will discuss the last category of elements that the U.S. Surgeon General identifies as possible risk factors for the development of mental health problems: sociocultural factors. Ultimately, sociocultural factors are anything outside your mind and body that could have an influence on your mental health. These elements can come from your culture, from where you live and work, from those you interact with on a daily or even occasional basis, and also from society as a whole. Examples of sociocultural factors that have been widely accepted as possible influence on mental health include your religious beliefs or practices and what sort of family you grew up in (The Kim Foundation, 2006; The Surgeon General, n.d.).

References:

The Kim Foundation. (2006). Causes. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from http://www.thekimfoundation.org/html/causes.html

Sherman, M. D. (2003, September).Support And Family Education: Mental health facts for families, Handout D. Retrieved October 18, 2007, from Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Family Mental Health Program Web site: http://w3.ouhsc.edu/safeprogram/D_HandOut.html

Slavich, G. M. (2004, September). Deconstructing depression: A diathesis-stress perspective.APS Observer, 17(9). Retrieved October 18, 2007, from http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1640

The Surgeon General. (n.d.). Overview of etiology. In Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (Chapter 2: The fundamentals of mental health and mental illness). Retrieved October 18, 2007, from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library /mentalhealth/chapter2/sec3.html