Mental problems are health conditions that can affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. These problems can change a person's life in big ways, like how they deal with things happening in their life, work, and get along with others.

If you suffer from a mental illness, you might have asked yourself, "Why did this happen?" People who have gone through times when they can't tell what's real, tried to hurt themselves, or those told they have a mental problem often ask this. Their families wonder too.

Scientists who study mental problems discovered that many of these problems have a mix of causes like how our body works, the things around us, how we feel inside, and even our genes.

Can mental health be genetic?

A bunch of research shows that certain gene combinations and changes in genes have an impact on mental problems. So, how can we understand these genes and figure out if we might have similar issues?

Your Family Health History

Looking at the health history of your family could give you important insights about your chances of getting a mental disorder or other common illnesses. Some mental disorders tend to show up a lot in families, so if someone closely related to you has such an illness, you might have a bigger chance of getting it too.

Just because someone in your family has a mental disorder doesn't mean you'll definitely get it. Other things also matter. But if you know about mental health issues in your family, you can figure out if you might be more likely to have certain problems. This information can help your doctor suggest ways to lower your risk. Both you and your doctor can watch out for early signs of trouble.

To understand your family's health history better, you can talk to your relatives, write down what you find, chat with a mental health expert, or visit a genetic counselor.

Talk to Your Blood Relatives

To start understanding your family health history related to mental illness, the first thing to do is have a chat with your blood relatives.

The best info comes from your closest relatives, like your parents, brothers, sisters, and children. Info from other relatives like your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins can also be useful.

If you can't get all the details about every relative, don't stress. Some people might not want to talk about it, or they might not remember things well. That's alright. Whatever info you can gather will be useful.

Keep a Record of Your Family History

There are tools available, both online and in print, that can assist you in making a family health history. One of these tools, made by the U.S. Surgeon General, is "My Family Health Portrait."

This tool exists to help you organize the details about your family's health history. You can download and print this tool, and then use it to write down information about your family's health. After you fill in the details, you can keep it for your own records, show the finished form to your doctor or healthcare provider, or share it with your family.

As your family gets bigger or if anyone in your family gets diagnosed with health problems, you can add new information or update the tool. It might take a bit of time and work, but this can be an important record for the future.

Talk With a Mental Health Professional

If someone in your family has a mental illness, it might be a good idea to talk to a mental health expert. They can help you learn about things that could increase or decrease the chances of having similar issues.

Sharing your questions and information with your healthcare provider can improve your healthcare. Having conversations with your doctor can help you trust each other more and might lead to better outcomes, safety, and satisfaction with your care.

Visit a Genetic Counselor

Getting genetic counseling means you can learn about how genetic conditions might impact you or your family.

A genetic counselor or another healthcare expert will gather info about your own health and your family's health history. They'll use this info to figure out the chance of you or someone in your family having a genetic condition.

With this info, the genetic counselor can help you choose if it's a good idea to do a genetic test for you or a family member. Genetic testing is often done before or during pregnancy, soon after a baby is born, or if your doctor thinks you might have a rare illness with known gene causes.

What causes mental illness to run in families?

We don't completely know why mental illnesses happen or why they can run in families.

When a parent passes a condition down to a child in families, it's called 'hereditary'.

There might be a connection between the possibility of developing a mental illness and the genes you and your relatives share.

It does look like mental illness might be hereditary. However, we don't fully understand the details of how this happens. Family members can pass down mental illness for various reasons, not just because of genes.

Can Genetic Testing Help Predict My Risk of Developing a Mental Disorder?

In simple terms, the answer to this question is currently no. Right now, genetic tests cannot accurately tell you if you're likely to get a mental disorder.

Even though scientists are studying genetics and how they relate to mental illness, they haven't figured out all the gene differences that cause mental disorders. The ones they do know about only increase the risk a tiny bit.

In the future, genetic research might help us give a clearer idea of someone's chances of getting a specific mental disorder or diagnosing it based on their genes.

While recent studies are starting to find genetic signs linked to some mental disorders and this might lead to better ways of checking and treating them personally, it's still too early to use genetic tests or scans of our genes to correctly diagnose or treat mental disorders.

Things around you, like feeling alone or going through a tough situation, can lead to mental illness. If mental illness runs in your family, you might be more likely to experience it during these hard times.

However, this doesn't guarantee that you will for sure have a mental illness. Even people without a family history of mental illness can still face it.

What can I do to reduce my risk of developing a mental illness?

Mental illness might show up in families, but it doesn't mean you or anyone in your family will definitely get sick.

Even if mental illness runs in your family, it's still smart to take care of your mental health. You can do things to keep your mental health in good shape. Here are some steps you can take:

Eating Healthy: A balanced diet is good for both your mind and body. The nutrients in food help your brain stay healthy and work well. Try to eat a variety of foods to feel mentally well.
Mindfulness: Being mindful means being more aware of your thoughts, feelings, body, and the world around you. It's a way to improve your mental health and manage stress or anxiety. To start, just pay more attention to your thoughts and surroundings. You can also practice mindfulness at certain times each day, or try new things to see the world differently.
Regular Exercise: Exercise helps your mood and can reduce stress. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, like brisk walking or swimming, can help.
Enough Sleep: Getting 6 to 9 hours of sleep each night, and sticking to a regular sleep schedule, is important for how you feel both physically and mentally.
Connecting with Others: Having good relationships with people is important. It helps you feel like you belong. It helps you feel valued. If you don't want to talk to someone you know, you can reach out to emotional support lines.
Supporting Others: Helping others can actually make you feel better too. Small acts of kindness can boost your mood.
Learning New Skills: Learning something new can boost your confidence, help you connect with others, and give you a sense of purpose.
Managing Stress: Stress can affect mental health. While some stress is inevitable, using coping strategies can reduce its impact.
Avoiding Alcohol and Drugs: Alcohol or drugs might cause mental health issues for some people. If you feel stressed or have problems, try some of the other strategies mentioned.

Remember, if you're concerned about signs of mental illness or your drug/alcohol use, it's a good idea to talk to your GP.

Conclusion

Taking proactive measures to safeguard our mental well-being is of paramount importance in today's fast-paced world.

Utilizing tools like Chartam’s Mental Health Planner to track our mental health symptoms can be a significant step towards prevention and self-care. By meticulously recording our feelings, moods, and experiences, we not only gain valuable insights into our mental state but also equip ourselves with data that can aid healthcare professionals in providing tailored guidance if needed.

Just as we monitor our physical health, keeping a watchful eye on our mental health should become a routine aspect of our lives. Chartam’s Mental Health Planner serves as a beacon, reminding us to prioritize self-awareness, emotional well-being, and early intervention.

Remember, just as we put on a seatbelt before driving, or apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun, tracking our mental health symptoms is a preventative action that paves the way for a healthier and happier future.

So let's embrace this tool, take charge of our mental well-being, and journey towards a more fulfilling life. To get one for yourself, click here.

Answered: Can Mental Health Be Genetic?

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