A look into Mental Illness Nicole Mora, Jhaliah Frierson, and Amanda Mina

42.5 million adults suffer from Mental Illness in the USA “Mental Illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.” - Mayo Clinic

Biological Perspective Keys: Emphasizes on the connection between our biology(neurotransmitters, genetics, hormones,brain) and our behavior. Causes: Mental illness can be caused poor nutrition. Food is the fuel to your brain and the healthier the food the better your brain functions. Studies show diets high in sodium and refined sugars are harmful to the brain. Some neurotransmitters are influenced by the good bacteria that make up the lining of your intestines. They absorb nutrition and activate a pathway between your gut and brain. Solutions: We need to choose healthier and different foods high in vitamins. Instead of getting Chick-fil-a’s chicken nuggets or McDonald's Big Mac, get a simple garden salad or make a fruit salad at home.

Behavioral Perspective Keys: Focuses on how observable behavior explains what we learn. Causes: There are many environmental factors that we observe that can cause a mental illness. Parenting can affect the mental state of a child. A child that is exposed to one parent abusing another, a parent that abuses substances, or even a dysfunctional or broken home can end up with some type of mental illness. Solutions: Parents need to do whats right in front of their children. If there's a conversation that needs to happen, go into a separate room. Just don’t argue in front of a child. Also parents can go to counseling on how to make things work for the sake of the children.

Cognitive Perspective Keys: Focuses on the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating. Causes: Those who suffer from Schizophrenia aren't able to think clearly about what's going on around them. Perhaps a patient remembering or thinking about past memories can cause them to have a psychological episode. One event can trigger another; the patient has no clue what's happening inside their head affecting the way they behave causing them to have these episodes. Solution: Examine patients who suffer from mental illness and their responses to external stimuli. Be able to explain the behavior of someone who suffers from mental illness clearly.

Evolutionary Perspective Keys: The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection. Causes: Research has shown those with mental illnesses for example Schizophrenia are less likely to reproduce. This is where natural selection becomes a question with the evolutionary perspective. A good question to ask is if people who have mental disorders are less likely to pass on their genes to their offspring why aren't disorders becoming less common in our population today? Solutions: Those with disorders should be tested and consulted before having a child. Mental Illness has been existing for ages, how we learn to handle it is the important part.

Psychodynamic Perspective Keys: Studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders Causes: Freud introduced the theory that our mind consists of the consciousness and unconsciousness which can cause conflict. This conflict can result in something called repression which is a state where you have no clue of troubling motives, wishes, or desires. Repression and exposure to the unconsciousness are the reasons behind mental illness. Solutions: Have patients suffering with mental illness talk about their problems and open up about their unconscious state (psychotherapy)

Cross - Cultural Perspective Keys: Explains how our culture and influence on each other influences the way we learn. Causes: Race, ethnicity, and religion can influence mental illness. The Kingston Clan is a religious polygamist group that create restrictions on their people. They are brainwashed to believe that God makes it okay to be polygamist and outsiders are trying to corrupt their mind and faith. When many people leave these strict religious groups they aren’t allowed to return and they are left with no family. Solution: There should be support groups to help people just leaving a strict religious situation.

Humanistic Perspective Keys: Emphasizes growth potential of healthy people and an individual's potential for personal growth. Causes: Carl Rogers introduced the theory of humanistic perspective. In cases such as a child who doesn’t receive any love can result in mental illnesses such as depressions or any type of eating disorder. Solution: In order to decrease the amount of people with mental illnesses and depression, parents should show more love to their child and be more involved.