Why Do Mental Health Conditions Occur?

Why is this happening? There are many possible causes for the onset of a mental health problem and condition. Symptoms to watch for and how to get help.

Learning what causes mental health problems and conditions starts with understanding the symptoms. Behavioral health symptoms to look for include physical, emotional, social and cognitive.

General warning signs

Recognize early symptoms to understand what causes mental health problems and to prevent them from worsening and affecting your school, work or home life. 

While everyone can experience highs and lows, if you see changes in the following areas that persist longer than a few days, contact your healthcare provider.

• Physical: Have you had concerns with sleep, appetite, and energy levels? Do you have headaches, stomach aches, or other unexplained pain?
• Emotional: Are you feeling down, on edge, irritable, or numb?
• Social: Do you find you’re more reactive to others? Are you isolating or avoiding friends, family, and activities you previously enjoyed?
• Cognitive: Is it hard to concentrate? Does your mind race? Are you having thoughts of harming yourself or others?

What causes mental health problems and conditions

There are many possible causes for the onset of a mental health condition. Your healthcare provider can perform an assessment that may include bloodwork, psychometric testing, and more. Once the cause of your symptoms is identified, it’ll be easier to find the right treatment plan.

• Biology: Your genetics or family history can play a role.
• Life Circumstances: Chronic stress, sudden loss, early life experiences, or trauma can trigger a mental health condition.
• Physical Health: Ongoing medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, can contribute to or worsen mental health conditions, as can hormonal changes and nutritional deficiencies.

Mental health help is ready when you are

There are different ways to access treatment, including through your primary care provider or by scheduling directly with a mental health specialist.

• Primary Care Provider (PCP): Your Primary Care Provider can help identify if you’ll benefit from treatment in primary care or a referral to a specialty mental health provider.
• Psychotherapist: A provider who specializes in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions, most often focusing on psychotherapy or counseling and promoting health behavior change.
• Psychiatrist: A provider who manages assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions, most often specializing in medication-related treatment.

PROVIDER SEARCH

Questions to ask your provider

You’ve found a professional to help. Now what?

A good mental health provider will guide you through the process with care and compassion, but there are questions you can ask to ensure you’ve found a good fit. It’s also helpful to ask questions to ensure you have the information you need to make choices about treatment.

Here are some thoughts to get you started.

Consider asking the following general questions to your mental health provider:

• What experience do you have treating someone with my condition?
• How do you usually treat someone with my condition?
• What type of treatments do you provide?
• How long do you expect treatment to last?
• How frequently will we be meeting?
• Will there be “homework” or activities for me to complete outside of sessions?
• Do you accept my insurance?
• What are your fees?
• How do you track progress?
• How soon can I expect to see some changes?