Mental Illness

Mental illnesses affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. Depression and anxiety are the most common forms of mental illness. Still, your Primary Care Physician or a Therapist can help you determine what your mental illness is and provide different treatment options. Mental illnesses can be long-lasting, and many factors contribute to various mental illnesses. Below are some factors that contribute to mental health and mental illness and coping mechanisms that can help you on a daily basis. [Wondering what the difference is between mental health and mental illness? Click here!]

Young woman and man sit with crossed legs and meditate with brain icon on the background — Woman and man sit and meditate with brain icon in the background to avoid

What Causes Mental Illness?

Factors that contribute to the risk of mental illness

Trauma
History of abuse (ex: child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, and more)
Experiences related to chronic medical conditions such as cancer or diabetes
Biological factors
Chemical imbalances in the brain
Use of alcohol or drugs
Having feelings of loneliness or isolation

Coping Mechanism for Mental Health

Coping mechanisms are strategies you can use when you are stressed, anxious, and/or have experienced trauma. The following are common ways to manage those difficult emotions.

Practicing deep breathing
Exercise
- Children – 60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day
- Adults – 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week
Read a book or articles you are interested in
Go to therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – used to explore relationships among a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors exploring relationships among a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Used to treat chronically suicidal individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Get enough sleep – uninterrupted sleep
- Adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep
- Children 6-12 years old need 9-12 hours
- Youth 13-18 need 8-10 hours of
If you start to think negatively, renew your mind with positive self-talk and micro-affirmations
- “I am loved”
- “I am strong and courageous”
- “I am in charge of the way that I feel, and I choose joy, peace, and happiness”
Eat a well-balanced meal
- Healthy foods rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy
Make art
- Painting
- Pottery
- Collage
- Make music
- Dance
Meditate or practice Mindfullness & Gratitude
Partaking in daily/routine religious or spiritual practice
Clean
Listen to Music!
Talk to your friend and/or family member
Play with your furry friends! Pets are shown to decrease stress levels in many people!