There are many types of mental health conditions and one of the most contentious issues, relating to mental illness, is the origins or causes of sickness. As mental illness usually affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours, it might be easier to attribute the changes to spiritual or mystical forces. Especially if there are no visible, physical changes that might explain the sudden or gradual changes in mood, behaviour or thinking. Therefore it is important to discuss the generic causes of mental health conditions. These include:
Genetic Predisposition to mental illness.
Mental health conditions, like physical ailments, can be traced to ones genes or genetic makeup. When one goes for a physical check-up one is usually asked if there is a history of Sugar diabetes, hyper tension or Cancer in their family, for example. This is done to explore the genetic predisposition that a person can have to these conditions. Hence if ones parents or grandparents had any of these conditions, there is a likelihood that they too, could have these conditions because of the genetic links. Similarly, mental health practitioners also ask about and look for a history of mental illness in the family. This is because mental illness is genetic and can be passed down from one generation to the other through the genes. This is something that can be baffling to some families and is usually the cause for supporting the beliefs that mental illness is caused by curses, witchcraft or mamhepo. Especially if there are similar patterns or cycles that can be traced from generation to generation. For example if grandfather became ill when he was 25 years old, started hearing voices, seeing things others could not see and stopped going to work or being productive. Then his son or daughter had a similar “attack” when he or she was around that same age. Then in the 3rd generation a grandson or granddaughter also has a similar challenge. In such a situation, it can be compelling to conclude that there is a spiritual force that does not want the family to prosper thus it waits for people to get into early adulthood or the productive stage of their life before it strikes and impedes progress. However, this could also be a clear example of how genetic material passed down from grandfather to son/ daughter and then to grandson/granddaughter can predispose or cause mental health conditions or illness.
Biological factors
Biological factors can also cause mental illness. This includes chemical imbalances in the brain or hormonal imbalances, infections, brain defects or injury and prenatal damage (disruption of early foetal brain of trauma during birth). For example, if blood sugar or blood pressure is high or low a person will become sick. This is because there are optimum levels for blood sugar or blood pressure that must be maintained in order for a person to be healthy and well. Similarly, the brain also works with chemicals that support thinking and influence emotions and behaviour. Thus if there are imbalances in these chemicals, it can cause mental illness which can be seen through changes in perception, thinking, behaviour and feelings.
Parenting
How one is parented can also cause or predispose them to mental illness. There are many sayings like “children learn what they live” and “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. This points to the influence that parents and families have on the development of children and how they turn out in the future. It is taken from the premise that when children are born they are “blank slates” that parents, families and society write upon. Thus if a child is raised in a family or environment where they are not shown or given love, are neglected, criticised, experience emotional, physical, verbal and sexual abuse, they are more likely to experience mental health challenges in childhood and in adulthood. The way one is raised also has a huge bearing on their character and personality. Children who were raised in difficult circumstances are prone to Depression, Anxiety, Substance abuse Personality disorders and many other challenges depending on the nurturing they received.
Environmental Stressors
Stress and difficult circumstances can also cause or trigger mental health conditions. When one finds themselves in a difficult or unexpected situation without the right tools to cope, it can make them vulnerable to mental illness. Some of the stressors that one can encounter include bereavement, financial difficulties, economic hardships, unemployment, divorce, break-up with boyfriend/ girlfriend, retrenchment, retirement, loss of life savings, chronic illness and many more.
HIV
HIV is a chronic condition that can cause mental illness. The HI virus itself and defaulting medication (ART) can result in mental illness. The full effects of HIV on the human body are still being discovered hence there is more to learn about how it causes mental illness. Furthermore, stigma, discrimination and social constructions around HIV infection can also act as a trigger for mental illness.
Substance Abuse
A drug is any substance that alters thinking, mood and behaviour. Thus drugs can be used for treatment and medicinal purposes. However, one can also use legal or illegal substances for recreational purposes. This misuse of legal or illegal substances is what is referred to as substance abuse. Some of the drugs that are abused include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, cough mixtures (Histalix, Bronclear), alcohol, Crystal Meth, Pethadine, Diazepam and many more. Use of these drugs can result in mental illness as they alter how one thinks, behaves and feels. They are also addictive resulting in dependence on them and substance use disorders.