Mental health issues can have serious consequences if left untreated. From individual psychological and biological factors to family dynamics, there are a variety of risk factors that can lead to mental illness. In this article, we'll explore the risks associated with mental health issues and how to identify them. At any given time, a variety of individual, family, community and structural factors can combine to either protect or undermine mental health.
Cadoret, Cain and Crowe (198) studied several adopted samples and concluded that both genetic and environmental forces play a role in the expression of antisocial behavior. Untreated mental illnesses can lead to more serious health problems, making it difficult for individuals to adapt to society. This can result in inappropriate behavior or misinterpreted actions. Studies have shown that 6 percent of all new cases of all types of mental disorders that occurred within six months were the result of poverty.
Protective and risk factors include individual psychological and biological factors, such as emotional abilities and genetics. People with mental disorders also need social support, including support to develop and maintain personal, family, and social relationships. Brown and Harris (198) have demonstrated that adults who lost one of their parents in childhood and have become depressed not only have that risk factor, but they also require a provoking agent in adulthood and the absence of good social support. Sameroff (198) found that children raised in families with seven or more risk factors had an IQ 30 points lower than children from families without risk factors.
It's important to remember that a person's mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. More risk studies are needed to determine which family members are most likely to suffer from these adverse effects and which aspects of the caregiver burden are the most common and the most malleable. The nature, timing, severity, and duration of certain risk factors and the individual's gender, age, and cultural identity are key variables in determining mental health outcomes.
