What influences our mental health?

Many factors influence our mental health, including:

Biological factors: physical health (or illness), genetics, neurotransmitters (brain chemistry); brain injuries, disorders or bacteria; prenatal damage, medications, supplements, substance abuse, alcohol and/or drug use

Cultural factors: how mental illness is communicated, viewed and identified influences attitudes, help seeking behaviors, and treatment. Social and cultural expectations; culture can also perpetuate stigma and increase stressors. Migration places stresses on minorities in a majority culture.

Environmental factors: socioeconomics, diet/poor nutrition, exercise/poor exercise, exposure to toxins, life experiences such as trauma, loss, abuse and/or neglect

Psychological factors: emotions and attitudes, learning, values, beliefs, and stress management, feelings of inadequacy

Social factors: family, peer relationships, culture, support systems, stigma

Spiritual factors: As Christians, we have the opportunity to receive love, compassion, peace, comfort, healing, grace and more from God. This can be a tremendous asset in spiritually coping with mental illness.