According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 25% of US adults (ages 18 and older) and around 13% of US children (ages 8 to 15) are diagnosed with a mental health disorder each year. A mental health disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior, as said by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is typically associated with distress and or damage in important areas of functioning. In 2021, research showed that 1 in 7 people around the globe go through their daily lives with a mental health disorder. Researchers study family inheritance to further understand how diseases and traits are passed down through generations, which helps them further understand genetic risks. It is of great importance to understand how mental health diseases are passed from parents to offspring, for both the parent and the child. This is because if you have a mental disorder and are considering having children or already have children, you want to know if you can pass down your mental disease to your child. Although the environment plays a major role in mental health, many disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, have strong genetic components that can be passed from parent to offspring.
Genes are like instruction manuals that are found inside our cells, made of DNA. DNA is a double-helix that carries all the genetic information. Heritability explains how much variation is in a trait, such as height or eye color. This is because of genetic factors rather than environmental ones. So, genes that are made of DNA determine our traits, and heritability tells us how those genes will influence those traits. Genetic predisposition is defined as an increased chance or likelihood of developing a particular disease based on the presence of one or more genetic variants and/or a family history suggestive of an increased risk of the disease, as stated by the National Cancer Institute. Having a genetic predisposition does not mean the person will develop the disease; lifestyle and environmental factors can also affect a person’s risk of developing the disease. Mental illness often comes from a variety of factors. Such as biological aspects like brain chemistry, Environmental factors such as trauma or stress also play a role. Genetic predispositions might cause someone to have a higher risk of contracting a disease, but it is usually not just one thing, but a mix of all these factors. The combination of these elements leads to developing mental health conditions.
As described by healthychildren.org, depression is a mood disorder that causes sadness and related symptoms to be more intense or last longer than usual after a difficult event. Depression can also happen without an event to trigger it. Children can have depression if their symptoms, including sadness, last for more than 2 weeks. Common symptoms include sadness, irritability, low mood, sleeping more than usual, no longer enjoying activities that make them happy, and struggling or failing in school. Depression affects 10% of people, and if someone in your family struggles with depression, you are likely to experience it too. This is from shared genes that can have an effect on mood, regulation, and brain function. But it’s not just about the genes. Family environment and learned behaviors are a big part of depression throughout families. Some common symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and speech. And also cognitive troubles like struggling to focus or remember things. Schizophrenia is considered highly heritable because genetics plays a very important role in the development of schizophrenia. Research shows that people with a family history of schizophrenia have a higher risk of developing the disorder. Genes are not 100% responsible for the development; a mix of environmental factors increases the chances of developing the disorder. But the closer the relationship to someone with schizophrenia, the higher the risk.
Genes increase the risk for mental illness but they are not the only factor involved. Environmental influences such as trauma, stress, exposure to toxins and individual experiences play huge roles in the development of a mental illness. Mental illness develops from a mix of genetic predisposition and environmental factors not genes alone. Epigenetics explain how life experiences can activate or silence genetic risk. Environmental factors such as stress and exposure to toxins can cause a chemical modification to DNA or the proteins associated. These modifications can switch genes on to activate and off to silence, influencing traits and disease risk. “A gene is not always “on ” or”off.” There must be the right combination of environmental factors and epigenetic regulation for a mental disorder to develop.” – Healthychildren.org. Sometimes these modifications can be passed down to future generations. A neuroscientist Rebecca Brown stated, genetic vulnerability only becomes a disorder when combined with environmental triggers such as trauma, long-term stress, or early childhood adversity. Parenting styles, social support, and stress can greatly influence inherited risks for mental illness. Supportive parenting style and strong social networks can create a buffer against stress, lowering the likelihood of the risks turning into actual mental illnesses. On the other hand, harsh parenting styles can create chronic stress that can activate genetic predispositions, increasing likelihood of developing a mental illness. To summarize, a light, supportive and caring environment can protect against mental diseases while a harsh environment can increase the risk.
Understanding why genetic risk matters helps with early screening, treatment, and reducing stigma behind mental illness. By knowing someone has genetic predisposition this allows them to be proactive and start monitoring and searching for signs and symptoms. This could lead to early intervention and preventing an illness. Having an understanding of your genetics can help doctors find a treatment that best fits individual needs, making them more effective. And understanding the science and genetics behind genetic risk and mental health can help to better reduce stigma by positioning it as a health condition rather than illness or disease that’s seen as embarrassing or bad. Families can use genetic information to help better education and spread awareness. Understanding the genetic component to mental health can reduce stigma within a family unit and help encourage open communication about mental health. It can also help families make decisions about healthcare and support symptoms.
It is very important that we understand how mental health diseases are passed down by generations. Depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia all have very strong genetic components that are passed down by generations. Even with environmental factors that play a major role in the activation of these diseases. Stress and trauma along with parenting technique and style are the bridge that connects the development of mental illness. And as we come to understand genetic components we can begin to further help and educate people on the risks and the importance of searching for signs and symptoms. And, in turn it can help reduce stigma behind mental illness.
