a family playing outdoors

What causes someone to get a mental illness?

While the causes of mental illness are complex and debated among professionals, we know that mental illness is not a result of sin or weakness of character. Some possible causes of mental illness include:

• Chemical imbalance in the brain

• Genetic predisposition

• Brain damage due to a head injury

• Chronic or ongoing medical concern

• Abuse, including physical, verbal, or sexual

• Trauma related to military combat

• A traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, financial loss, or divorce

Church and Community Resources

(Some of the resources listed below are not created, maintained, or controlled by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but are provided as additional resources.)

• Ezra Taft Benson, “Do Not Despair,” Ensign, Nov. 1974, 65–67

• Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 18–21

• Alexander B. Morrison, “Myths about Mental Illness,” Ensign, Oct. 2005, 31–35

• “Know the Warning Signs,” National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

• “Mental Health Problems—What Causes Them?” Mind for Better Mental Health

• “Mental Illness—Causes,” Mayo Clinic

• “Mental Illness—Risk Factors,” Mayo Clinic