The Mayo Clinic Diet Book, learn more

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Certain factors may increase your risk of developing mental health problems, including:

  • Having a biological (blood) relative, such as a parent or sibling, with a mental illness
  • Experiences in the womb — for example, having a mother who was exposed to viruses, toxins, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy
  • Experiencing stressful life situations, such as financial problems, a loved one's death or a divorce
  • Having a chronic medical condition, such as cancer
  • Experiencing brain damage as a result of a serious injury (traumatic brain injury), such as a violent blow to the head
  • Having traumatic experiences, such as military combat or being assaulted
  • Use of illegal drugs
  • Being abused or neglected as a child
  • Having few friends or few healthy relationships
  • Having a previous mental illness

Mental illness is common. About 1 in 4 adults has a mental illness in any given year. About half of U.S. adults will develop a mental illness sometime in their lives. Mental illness can begin at any age, from childhood through later adult years.

Complications Causes
References
  1. Psychotherapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  2. Mental illness and the family: Recognizing warning signs and how to cope. Mental Health America. http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/mi-and-the-family/recognizing-warning-signs-and-how-to-cope. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  3. Introduction. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  4. Brain stimulation therapies. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/brain-stimulation-therapies/brain-stimulation-therapies.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  5. Mental health medications. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/index.shtml. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  6. Mind/body connection: How your emotions affect your health. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/mental/782.printerview.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  7. Mental illness surveillance among U.S. adults. Centers for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  8. Treatment approaches for drug addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  9. Understanding hospitalization for mental health. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/Search?query=hospitalization&inc=10&x=0&y=0Accessed July 24, 2012.
  10. Salgado MF, et al. Family history of serious mental illness in bipolar I and bipolar II patients of the Mayo Bipolar Biobank. Biological Psychiatry. 2012;71:153S.
  11. Mental illness: Taking care of yourself. American Family Physician. 2008;78:363.
  12. Gold MS, et al. Psychosocial treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 2, 2012.
  13. Rackley S, et al. Depression in medically ill patients. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2012;35:231.
  14. Depression. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  15. Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 9th ed. Philadephia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&CSC=Y&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books2&AN=01412563/9th_Edition/5&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5b1%5d/METADATA%5b1%5d/TBY%5b1%5d/EDITORS%5b1%5d. Accessed July 24, 2012.
  16. Li X, et al. Review of pharmacological treatment in mood disorders and future directions for drug development. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2012;37:77.
  17. McDowell AK, et al. Practical suicide-risk management for the busy primary care physician. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:792.
  18. Chamberlain AM, et al. Associations of preexisting depression and anxiety with hospitalization in patients with cardiovascular disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2011;86:1056.
  19. Index. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed June 13, 2012.
  20. Understanding suicide: Fact sheet 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pub/Suicide_factsheet.html. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  21. What is mental illness: Mental illness facts. National Alliance on Mental Illness. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness. Accessed July 23, 2012.
  22. Schreiber J, et al. Suicidal ideation and behavior in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed March 13, 2012.
  23. Kung S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. Aug. 7, 2012.
  24. Adjustment disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Aug. 27, 2012.
DS01104 Sept. 15, 2012

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger