Portfolio of Hope

Lisa Fouweather

Risk Factors associated with developing mental health conditions.

20 May 2021

Individuals with a pre-existing case of low self-esteem and sense of insecurity are more likely to turn to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as substance misuse. This often results in ill mental health.
People with a family history of mental health problems are more likely to suffer poor mental health themselves, as there is a lot of research suggesting that mental illness might in fact be due to biological factors (i.e., it could potentially be inherited.)
Those who have had a challenging childhood, whether that be due to suffering abuse, trauma and/or neglect, are more likely to struggle with their mental health compared to those who have grown up in a loving and supportive family unit.
Financial issues often brought on due to unemployment can cause people who have previously never struggled with their mental health, to suffer. This is because they are more likely to experience higher levels of stress than the general member of society with a secure job who does not have to worry about their financial situation.
Social isolation is one of the biggest causes of mental health problems, what with loneliness being an epidemic in modern day society. A lack of contact with other people often means that their struggles are kept inside, gradually worsening due to having no external outlet to ‘let out’ their feelings.
Expanding on from the previous point regarding social isolation, a breakdown of relationships can also be a major contributor to the development of mental health problems.
Accommodation and the associated stress that it can bring (e.g., living costs) can also be a resulting factor of one developing poor mental health. People need to feel secure and ‘at home’, and so having worries regarding this can be a big struggle.
Bereavement is a major cause of ill mental health.
Domestic violence, whether that be direct or indirect can result in mental health problems arising.
Whilst most people associate mental health problems with factors relating to mental health, it can also be triggered by physical causes, such as serious illness or injury.
Social anxiety and depression, although mental health conditions in their own right, can lead to further mental health problems developing. The reason being that these two mental illnesses, often result in the sufferer isolating themselves from wider society, which as I have already commented, is likely to lead to their problems gradually worsening.
Having a poor work/life balance is another major contributor of poor mental health, as having insufficient ‘down time’ from work to relax and do things for enjoyment can result in mental health problems developing.
To expand on the previous point regarding work, an increased workload/difficult targets can also result in mental health problems, since these people will be subjected to greater levels of stress and anxiety.
Keeping on the topic of work, two further contributors of mental health problems are job security (fearing that one may lose their job and therefore struggle financially), and workplace bullying.
Having children to look after (childcare) can be trying for a lot of people, but those with already increased stress levels due to any of the points I have previously written about, are more likely to let everything ‘get on top of them.’
We all know the importance of getting an adequate amount of sleep, but unfortunately, not all of us do. People with sleeping problems more likely to also struggle with their mental health, as they will be likely to feel tired, depleted and lack energy, all of which may contribute to their mental state suffering as a direct result.