Question

What is your definition of mental illness, and why did you choose to define it that way? (e.g., do you focus more on biological or environmental factors? do you perceive mental illness as more transitory or chronic? what terms do you think best describe mental illness?)​

Answer 1

Mental illness refers to health conditions that affect one’s mood, thought process and patterns of behaviour. The word “illness” is associated with disease and indicates a biological cause. By focusing mainly on the biological aspect of mental health, the implication is that the condition in question is treatable through some form of intervention. Environmental factors tend to be triggers for conditions that in some sense could be considered pre-existing condition. Environmental factors play on the susceptibility of an individual to develop a mental illness.

Mental illness, in general, is a chronic ailment. The fact that most forms of mental illness are associated with brain chemistry would suggest that they are illnesses that are likely to affect people throughout their lifetime