Category: Mental Illness

Introduction

Obesity is one of the leading preventable diseases in the world, such that over a third of the global population is classified as overweight or obese1. For adults, the World Health Organisation defines overweight as having a BMI greater than or equal to 25, while obesity as having a BMI greater than or equal to 301. As a significant public health threat, obesity increases the risk of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and a multitude of cancers1. It is also highly likely that there is a positive correlation between the rise in worldwide obesity prevalence with the increase in mental health disorders over the past few decades. Several studies have found that a significant proportion of patients with mental illness are obese compared to the general population, with one specific study based in Maryland, United States showing that their BMI was almost twice that of a control group2. It is important to investigate the nature of this relationship as current research has found that it is likely to be bidirectional. This means that obesity may increase an individual’s likelihood of developing a mental disorder while a history of mental illness may increase the risk of obesity. Therefore, this review plans to identify the potential bidirectional relationship between obesity and mental disorders, which would lead to improved diagnosis and better treatment methods for patients.

Obesity: Consequence of mental disorders

This first section examines obesity as a consequence of mental disorders and identifies the potential causal pathways between the two. One of the clearest examples of this inter-relationship would be patients with binge-eating disorder gaining weight due to their unhealthy coping mechanisms3. A binge episode is often followed by shame, guilt, and depression, followed by the need to soothe these feelings therefore triggering further binges. On another note, children with ADHD (Attention Hyper-Deficit Disorder) and other attention-deficit disorders are found to be heavier than their peers without behavioral disorders and are likely to remain overweight into adulthood4. Several studies have hypothesized about this link, an example being the impulsive behavior demonstrated by ADHD patients, leading to uncontrolled eating. A more in-depth explanation would be that food enables the increase of dopamine levels in the brain, therefore eating would be perceived as highly appealing to ADHD patients since they have lower dopamine levels (particularly in the prefrontal cortex)5. Interestingly, methylphenidate, the most widely used drug for the treatment of ADHD, is known to reduce appetite and potentially cause weight loss. This is shown by a study revealing that medication-naive ADHD patients are 1.5 times more likely to be overweight than those with ADHD who do use medication6. Children with ADHD also have difficulties sleeping, which can lead to obesity. It was recently demonstrated that with every hour of lost sleep, the BMI of a child is raised by 0.5 kg/m2 7. Sleep deprivation releases hormones that increase the appetite and cause fatigue during the day, leading to reduced physical activity. This symptom can hence be related to insomnia and other sleep disorders such as sleep eating.

Patients with anxiety disorders can also have symptoms of increased appetite and cravings for high-sugar and high-fat foods due to the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, causing subsequent weight gain in stressed individuals8. Hormone imbalances such as increased cortisol levels due to anxiety are also hypothesized to cause a build-up of fat in the stomach9. Some anxiety-associated chronic conditions such as asthma can also affect patients’ abilities to engage in physical activities, resulting in excess weight8. Certain anxiety medications such as Xanax are reported to cause fatigue and consequently lead to adverse long-term health effects9. Since some symptoms of anxiety and depression overlap – namely, fatigue, sleeping problems, and difficulty concentrating – it is unsurprising that patients with major depressive disorders are also prone to weight gain. A study in 2010 has shown that depressed persons had a 58% increased risk of becoming obese, whereas obese persons had a 55% risk of developing depression over time. The main difference between anxiety and depression is that the former is characterized by heightened arousal whilst the latter is signified by feelings of hopelessness. Therefore, the lack of energy and physical activity among depressed individuals plays a key part in causing obesity. Research also identifies tricyclic antidepressant medications (e.g. amitriptyline) as being linked to weight gain, however, other studies have reported unclear effects of antidepressants on subsequent weight change10.

Epidemiological studies have found that there is an inconsistent relationship between substance abuse disorder and obesity. However, limited evidence from clinical samples appears to support an inverse relationship between current substance use disorders and obesity. A study has found inverse relationships between BMI and past-year alcohol and marijuana use among women seeking weight loss treatment11. It seems that compulsive eating habits and addictions to alcohol and other drugs share similar psychological and physiological underpinnings. Both intakes of food and drugs activate reward circuits in the brain, causing the release of dopamine. However, another study by Wang and his colleagues suggested that overeating and substance abuse may initially stimulate dopamine activity but eventually lead to a reduction of dopamine receptors and hence impede dopamine activity12.

From the findings above, it can be concluded that general symptoms of individuals with mood disorders such as indulging in “comfort eating”, eating impulsively, and lack of exercise compound together to cause weight gain. Hormone imbalances and treatment medications also play a part in exacerbating the effects of obesity.

Obesity: Cause of mental disorders

The second section discusses obesity as the cause of mental disorders, be it directly or indirectly. Disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa most likely appear due to a fear of being overweight or obese. The social stigma regarding body weight and image is deeply entrenched in our society, causing weight-based discrimination to be widespread. This target-based discrimination can lead to anxiety and depression, especially since individuals would tend to fear judgment and scrutinization from society13. Obese individuals have poorer social support and social networks as well as lower self-esteem compared with normal-weight individuals. Many studies have reported an increased incidence of bullying amongst overweight/obese adolescents, which is in line with the narrative that being overweight is a deviation from the community’s social norms14. Obese individuals might feel pressured to gain control over their weight, which can be distressing, particularly when repeated failed attempts to lose weight are the norm. It is therefore unsurprising that dieting was found to be closely related to anxiety. On the other hand, disturbed eating patterns, lethargy associated with weight gain, and general body dissatisfaction are known to increase the risk of depression. Despite not being able to clearly establish the direction of the causal relationship between obesity and depression, this study in 2008 suggests that the relationship possibly involves multiple mechanisms including decreased physical activity, increased caloric intake, and negative body image15.

High-risk groups

Multiple risk factors increase the likelihood of obesity, namely genetics (race and gender), socioeconomic factors (income and education), individual behaviors and lifestyle as well as environmental factors. Specific to the causal relationship discussed in this review, a study in South Africa found that young women were most at risk for mental illness if obese17. This might be a result of women being more distressed about weight perception, which makes them more susceptible to mental illness. Women also tend to resort to food as a coping mechanism, and women with mood disorders are more likely than men to report increased appetite as a symptom of depression. Ethnicity also plays a part in this link between obesity and mental illness. A study conducted at University College London found that African girls were less affected by being overweight as compared to Caucasian girls as body image is less stigmatized in their society18. Worryingly, a meta-analysis by Bak and colleagues has reported that almost all psychiatric medications cause weight gain19.

Effective treatment methods for obese patients with psychotic disorders

In this day and age, psychiatrists need to have adequate training to counsel psychiatric patients who are obese or overweight or are experiencing weight gain due to medication intake. Conversely, health experts must also be aware of obesity manifesting as a symptom of mental disorders. At the moment, behavioral treatments for patients with obesity generally have 3 components: dietary change, increased physical activity, and behavior therapy techniques. However, the effect of psychiatric disorders on obesity treatment must be taken into account. Patients with depression or anxiety would likely struggle to adopt routines such as regular exercise and preparing healthier meals as this requires constant effort. Poor impulse control associated with ADHD presents a challenge in adopting a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, patients may be reluctant to proceed with treatment, especially if the drugs cause subsequent weight gain. Anticipating these challenges would enable psychiatrists to be more prepared when suggesting treatment methods for these individuals.

For treatment to be effective, anxiety and depression patients require constant encouragement and oftentimes gradual exposure to prevent the patients from being overwhelmed20. ADHD patients must also develop routines and undergo self-monitoring to practice their self-control20. It is hoped that once clear links are established between obesity and a specific mental health disorder, treatment methods can be tailored to ensure better results.

Conclusion

The reasons cited for the link between obesity and mental disorders can be narrowed down to four main reasons: behavioral issues, negative body image stemming from social stigma, medication effects, and hormone imbalances. Behavioral issues include physical inactivity and uncontrolled eating habits. From the brief review conducted, it is evident that obesity can mainly cause anxiety and depression, whereas multiple mental disorders can have side effects related to unhealthy weight gain. This is an interesting finding as it presents obesity as a long-term symptom of these disorders rather than the root cause. However, alternative research designs including longitudinal and experimental studies are required to ultimately clarify the direction of this causal relationship.

References

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3. Obesity Action Coalition. (2015) Binge Eating Disorder And Obesity Action Coalition. [online] Available at: [
4. Anderson SE, Cohen P, Naumova EN, Must A. (2006) Relationship of childhood behavior disorders to weight gain from childhood into adulthood. Ambul Pediatr.
5. Charles, Benjamin C., and Dan Eisenberg. (2007) Obesity, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder and the Dopaminergic Reward System. Collegium Antropologicum
6. Waring, Molly E., and Kate L. LaPane. (2008) Overweight in Children and Adolescents in Relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Results From a National Sample. Pediatrics
7. Ellen A.F, Jan K.B, et al. (2013) ADHD is a risk factor for overweight and obesity in children. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 34(8)
8. Gariepy, G., Nitka, D. and Schmitz, N., (2009) The association between obesity and anxiety disorders in the population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity, 34(3), pp.407-419.
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12. Wang GJ, Volkow ND, Logan J, et al. (2001) Brain dopamine and obesity. Lancet. 357, pp. 354-357.
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14. Scott, K., Bruffaerts, R., Simon, G., Alonso, J., Angermeyer, M., de Girolamo, G., Demyttenaere, K., Gasquet, I., Haro, J., Karam, E., Kessler, R., Levinson, D., Medina Mora, M., Oakley Browne, M., Ormel, J., Villa, J., Uda, H. and Von Korff, M., 2007. Obesity and mental disorders in the general population: results from the world mental health surveys. International Journal of Obesity, [online] 32(1), pp.192-200. Available at:
15. Simon, G., Ludman, E., Linde, J., Operskalski, B., Ichikawa, L., Rohde, P., Finch, E. and Jeffery, R., 2008. Association between obesity and depression in middle-aged women. General Hospital Psychiatry, 30(1), pp.32-39.
16. Hruby, A. and Hu, F., (2014)The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture. PharmacoEconomics, [online] 33(7), pp.673-689. Available at:
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18. Wardle J, Cooke L. (2005). The impact of obesity on psychological well-being. CR-UK Health Behaviour Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London
19. Bak M, Fransen A, Janssen J, van Os J, Drukker M. (2014). Almost all antipsychotics result in weight gain: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 9(4), pp. 94112.
20. Barry, D. and Petry, N., (2009) Obesity And Psychiatric Disorders. [online] Psychiatric Times. Available at:

The overuse of smartphones may cause teenagers to have symptoms of depression anxiety, and emotional problems. Both Twenge and Campbell (2018) and Jensen et al. (2019) argue that the more screen time youngsters have, the more likely they have depression symptoms. According to Twenge and Campbell (2018), the risk of adolescents getting depression increases with screen use while Jensen et al. (2019) state that higher average depressive symptoms in teenagers are reported when the screen time for creating content is increased. Youngsters who have high screen use are more than two times more likely to have depression compared to low screen users and those who are moderate users may have depression symptoms and anxiety at greater risk (Twenge and Campbell, 2018). In addition, Twenge and Campbell (2018) concur with Jensen et al. (2019) in their research by claiming that screen time may be associated with emotional problems. Twenge and Campbell (2018) conclude that adolescents who are high or moderate screen users tend to have difficulty in emotion regulation while Jensen et al. (2019) point out that there may be a positive relationship between screen time on content creation and symptoms of emotional problems. Therefore, there are negative effects on the psychological well-being of teenagers.

In contrast to the disadvantages of smartphone use, some scholars contend that cell phone usage is not significantly associated with mental health (Jensen et al., 2019), it is likely to be beneficial to youngsters. As pointed out by Jensen et al. (2019), there is little evidence to support the correlation between teenagers’ smartphone use and their psychological health. Jensen et al.’s (2019) view is in accordance with Everall and Yun’s (2019) view as they highlight the advantages of the use of mobile phones on mental well-being. Jensen et al. (2019) have found that adolescents who spend more time on text messages and those who have the most screen time on content creation are likely to enjoy better psychological well-being while Everall and Yun (2019) believe that young people could deal with their stresses with the help of mental health-related apps. Everall and Yun (2019) also suggest that youngsters who have a risk of establishing mental illnesses can be identified by the smartphone which they can get support when they need it. Furthermore, the patterns in smartphone usage can be monitored in order to anticipate when teenagers are at risk of suicide (Everall & Yun, 2019). Therefore, some benefits of mobile phone use on mental health are observed.

The literature comprises some research and views on the topic of smartphone use and psychological well-being. However, there are some limitations in Twenge and Campbell’s research. They ask children and teenagers questions about screen time examine the results and conclude that the more screen time they have, the more likely to be lower in mental health. Nonetheless, the duration of the study seems to be short and no long-term follow-up measures are taken. In addition, Everall and Yun (2019) suggest that smartphones can help with young people’s mental well-being, but no research or data is provided to illustrate how they can help.

In conclusion, Twenge and Campbell (2018) believe that adolescents with high or moderate screen use tend to be low in mental health, while Jensen et al. (2019) and Everall and Yun (2019) argue that cell phone use is weakly associated with psychological health, it is advantageous to well-being instead. With moderate use of smartphones in a reasonable way, the lives and mental health of people could be better.

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. It can be argued that mental illness is a social construction. Social constructionism states that something only exists because society built it, created it or needed it for its own development or interest (Boghossian, 2001). It will be argued through literatures whether mental illness is a social construct or not.

There is evidence to suggest that the way people view mental illness and the way it can be treated is dependent on society. Thompson (2010) used case-control sampling methods to investigate if stereotypes influence the outcome of psychiatric evaluations used in the criminal justice system. This study found that race and gender stereotypes influenced the outcome when it comes to assessing mental illness. This argument is also related to how every society has its own individual beliefs about what is normal behavior. For instance, in ancient Japanese tradition suicide was respected as it was a way to redeem your sins (Kawanishi, 2008), however suicide in catholic societies goes against Christ and is linked to poor mental health (Gearing et al., 2009). From this point of view, it is argued that the existence of mental illness is reliant on particular cultures. These findings are also supported by Szasz, (1960) who denied the complete existence of mental illness and disputed that mental illness was created to control people who did not fit into current social systems. He further argues that speaking of mental illness is speaking metaphorically as disease suggests disease of the body, and the mind is not a part of the body. Together there is evidence to indicate that mental illness is a social construct.

However, it could be argued that there is strong evidence which supports the reality of mental illness. Caspi et al. (2003) conducted a prospective-longitudinal study which tested why stressful experiences lead to depression in some people but not others. The study suggested that young people who go through emotionally stressful experiences and who have inherited a variant form of the serotonin transporter gene are more prone to depression. It has been suggested through functional magnetic resonance imaging that brain functions change in accordance to the gene variant (Weinberger et al., 2006). These results support mental illness not being a social construction. More support for mental illness not being a social construct comes from evidence from studies which look into whether drug treatment is effective in improving the symptoms of mental disorders. The schizophrenia statistics (2017) stated that 10 years after the initial diagnosis, 25% of schizophrenics have experienced recovery and 25% are much improved after taking effective treatment. These statistics further reinforce how mental illness is not a social construct, as if it wasn’t real, people wouldn’t be able to show signs of recovery.

Mental illness being a social construct or not is an argument which is continuing to this day. There is solid evidence to suggest mental illness is dependent on the society a person is in, thus making it a social construct. However, there is also evidence biologically and through genetics to say it has not been socially constructed. To conclude, for some mental illnesses it can be said they are a social construct, however for others it may not. Essentially, more research needs to be done on this argument.

Mental illness is a major problem in the United States of America. Students suffer from mental illness and they do not know how to deal with it. Teachers are not trained to help students with mental illness which is a big problem because the most stress happens in school. Mental illness affects students in different ways such as, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, etc. This is important because mental illness will affect students’ performance in school and can lead to suicidal thoughts and can lead to a school shooting. Teachers should be taught how to deal with students with mental health. Schools need to find solutions to help students with mental illness. In order for schools to break the stigma of mental illness, they need to implement a program that will help students with mental illness come together and talk to each other. Teachers need to learn about mental illness so they can understand what can possibly be going on in one’s head and can help. In order to do this, school districts should hire psychologists so they can start up a program and teach the teachers about mental illness.

Mental health isn’t discussed nationally or even in schools and even when it is it is when someone does something harmful to themselves or others which can cause problems since information on mental health is not spread widely, A lot of people will just put it to the side but approximately 26% of adults and 20% of children experience diagnosable mental health conditions each year, however, very few of them utilize the needed services. In order to help people’s voices be heard of have someone there for the students and maybe even adults to talk to. We could encourage school counselors to do monthly preventions such as stress management, emotional regulation, and teach the importance of seeking help for students and adults. “Because school counselors, school psychologist, and school social workers are public servants, it can be difficult for them to ask parents to focus on the family as a solution to children’s difficulties. The schools often focus on systems such as teachers, administrators, and social service agencies to ‘fix the child’” (Vanderbleek). It shouldn’t be difficult for school counselors to talk to parents about the troubles and problems that their children have because if they are reluctant then it the problems could get even worse that’s why we should train the staff on how to take care of these things to prevent them from getting worse. Barriers should be removed for students thinking about seeking help, by training school counselors to prioritize helping students even more than just class scheduling, grades and testing. “Students lack of services had been attributed to the fragmentation of school-based mental health services, which are often developed to address specific issues and focus only on improving academic or career skills and decreasing disruptive behavior” (Vanderbleek). Students don’t get all the services they should be getting by these faculty and staff members, usually guidance counselors mostly help with schedules and testing but what they should be helping with his children’s mental state and guiding them, hence the name ‘guidance counselors’. These are the small steps we need to improve to train staff to deal with these issues.

We should educate not only students and staff but also parents about mental health because it could make a huge difference in a person’s life. Although some struggles with mental health could also be involved with the family life it is always good to know the details about it so then the parents can see if they can do anything different to make things better. “Researchers have found family involvement is a key component to both service utilization and effectiveness” (Vanderbleek). It is never a bad time about health issues regarding anyone in particular if we teach parents first about mental health and health issues then they could play a big component on getting help and or helping their child through whatever they’re going through. Faculty and staff should know how to take action in the circumstances and if there are already teachers in the building that work well with children and we’re already thought about health issues than it should be spread so then children can know where to go and who to talk to when they need help. “Schools also have professionals, including teachers, social workers, and school counselors, who can be trained to identify emotional and behavioral problems and are involved with the students most of the day” (Vanderbleek). It is always good to release children to have someone to talk to throughout the day and to build a relationship and a bond with them so they won’t be afraid to talk to them. It is not difficult to spread awareness but it is difficult to get the children and students and adults trust on whether they can talk to people or not because if they don’t have trust then they will keep it in close to themselves, which can lead to more problems.

School should be a safe environment for students, a place where they can always have someone to talk to and feel free to express themselves. School violence can be prevented, and so could self-harm, if the help is there and available before it leads to anything serious. “They’re teaching teens to build healthy habits, enacting programs designed to strengthen relationships, and bringing suicide prevention work to students as young as elementary school” (Blad). Research shows that prevention efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and even students can reduce violence and improve the school environment. Even the smallest acts can cause a big difference to stop depression and violence. Some parents believe that social media and technology is the reasoning behind all of these mental problems when most of the time that’s not the case. “Rather than fixating on their kids’ phone use, Alvord said, parents can help children build resilience, encourage them to develop friendships and provide social support” (Alltucker). Instead of bashing and yelling at your kids about how much technology they use, they should be taught to step outside into the real world to work on socializing and not being enclosed inside all day. There are multiple upon multiple different ways to teach children on bullying and the causes of bullying, they should be taught that mental health is a serious issue and should not be hidden in the dark.

Our mental health also contributes to our decision-making process, how we cope with stress and how we relate to others in our lives. Students suffer from mental illness and they do not know how to deal with it. Teachers are not trained to help students with mental illness which is a big problem because the most stress happens in school. Mental illness affects students in different ways such as, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, etc. This is important because mental illness will affect students’ performance in school and can lead to suicidal thoughts and can lead to a school shooting or any other dangerous and life-threatening acts. Awareness should be spread instead of leaving it in the dark.

What causes mental illnesses and how does it affect those with it? An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer. Many people suffer from more than one mental illness. These disorders affect your mood, thinking and behavior. People who have these illnesses or disorders are caused from drugs, alcohol, family conflicts such as neglect or abuse, relationship difficulties, etc. Some people with an illness think they’re bad people or different per say but this is truly something that affects people for the worst and it’s not their fault. Mental disorders are very broad range of moods and actions that people deal with, so when someone talks about others disorder, you should be specific in the way you tell someone because someone can be easily mistaken as ‘crazy’.

The causes of mental illness is a very long list. Over time, researchers have found that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental causes. Family is a big cause to some people’s reasons to have anxiety or depression, not only from the start like genetics but can be caused by growing up. Growing up, teens feel as if they have to handle all things to themselves. Everyday challenges come up upon all of us at one point and we want to handle them but as teens, we don’t know how to react to them. School difficulties come upon us and we struggle every day that our parents don’t even know nor think about for us.

Parents are said to be a reason that teens suffer with things but it is such an underrated opinion that no one really pays attention to it nor acts on it. More than 35 percent of teens have blamed their problems on their parents or family history that makes them feel that way. Also, families that fight and go through difficulties tend to be affected the most, more than any other. Studies have shown that parents also mentally abuse their kids and they don’t even know it. More than half of teens occupy themselves with bad behaviors like choosing drugs, bad activities and trying to get attention but the wrong type of attention.

A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have been described with signs and symptoms that are vary widely between specific disorders. Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional. The causes of mental disorders are often unclear. Theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. Mental disorders are usually defined by a combination of how a person behaves, feels, perceives, or thinks. This may be associated with particular regions or functions of the brain, often in a social context. A mental disorder is one aspect of mental health. Cultural and religious beliefs, as well as social norms, should be taken into account when making a diagnosis.

Services are based in psychiatric hospitals or in the community, and assessments are carried out by mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinic social workers, using various methods such as psychometric tests but often relying on observation and questioning. Treatments are provided by various mental health professionals. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options. Other treatments include lifestyle changes, social interventions, peer support, and self-help. In a minority of cases there might be involuntary detention or while ‘illness’ is common. It has been noted that the term ‘mental’ is not necessarily meant to imply separateness from brain or body. According to DSM-IV, a mental disorder is a psychological syndrome or pattern which is associated with distress, disability, increased risk of death, or causes a significant loss of autonomy, however it excludes normal responses such as grief from loss of a loved one, and also excludes deviant behavior for political, religious, or societal reasons not arising from a dysfunctional in the individual.

There are many different categories of mental disorder, and many different facets of human behavior and personality that can become disordered such as anxiety disorder, mood disorder, psychotic disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder, sleeping disorders and so on. Various new types of mental disorder diagnosis are occasionally proposed. Among those controversially considered by the official committees of the diagnostic manuals include self-defeating personality disorder, passive-aggressive disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The onset of psychiatric disorders usually occurs from childhood to early adulthood. The likely course and outcome of mental disorders varies and is dependent on numerous factors related to the disorder itself, the individual as a whole, and the social environment. Some disorders may last a brief period of time, while others may be long term in nature.

All disorders can have a varied course. Long-term international studies of schizophrenia have found that over half of individuals recover in terms of symptoms, and around a fifth to a third in terms of symptoms and functioning, with many requiring no medication. While some have serious difficulties and support needs for years, ‘late’ recovery is still plausible. The World Health Organization concluded that the long-term studies findings converged with others in relieving patients, careers and clinicians of the chronicity paradigm which dominated thinking throughout much of the 20th century. Some disorders may be very limited in their functional effects, while others may involve substantial disability and support needs. The degree or disability may vary over time and across different life domains. Furthermore, continued disability has been linked to institutionalization, discrimination and social exclusion as well as to the inherent effects of disorders. Alternatively, functioning may be affected by the stress of having to hide a condition in work or school, etc., by adverse effects of medications or other substance, or by mismatches between illness-related variations and demands for regulations.

Mental illness is not something brought often, though it is a medical issue that is very serious just as any medical issue such as diabetes or heart disease. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Thought those who have it may not feel it is okay to talk about or may feel uncomfortable talking about it. We must reassure them that it is okay and that they are not alone. As people we are continually expanding our understanding of how the human brain works, and treatments are available to help successfully manage mental health conditions.

In this essay I will be discussing my opinion on mental health, my personal experience, and why I believe it is not taken as seriously as it should be. Most people have been or will be diagnosed with a mental illness in their lifetime. Unfortunately, though everyone does not receive the help they need for these illnesses. Mental illness is normal and can affect anyone, even being passed down genetically. But yet there is still shame behind having it. I can relate to this because in many Black homes (even mine at one point in time) it is looked down upon to not be fully okay mentally. This opinion makes a lot of people hesitate to seek help and can most of the time make things worse for the individual. Everyone isn’t as judgmental as they used to be, so mental illness acceptance & support has increased but improvements can still always be made.

One example I wanted to talk about is therapy. Therapy was first introduced in the 1800’s by a man named Sigmund Freud and his lady colleague named Anna O. Its purpose was to help people cope and get through mental disorders. In present time therapy can be pretty expensive if you want to work with someone who is really skilled. It is very unfortunate that people who cannot afford it cannot receive help simply because they don’t have the money. This should definitely be more focused on currently. Therapy might be just what a lot of people need to get them on the right path. Most of the time when people can’t afford it, they get sent to a ‘lower class’ program and, in my opinion, they aren’t the best. The therapists there seem to only ask questions from a paper and go on with their day.

Another reason I believe the system needs work is the hospitals and programs kids, teens, and adults are sent to receive more help. The facilities tend to seem very jail-like and scary. Anyone would feel uneasy or uncomfortable being there. They also have really uncomfortable sleeping conditions. The food isn’t good and sometimes not even cooked fully, when you don’t eat it, you are being noted on it because they think you aren’t eating due to depressive thoughts. If you lose weight from not eating that is also being noted. The other people in the facility with you have a possibility of having much more problems going on with them and sometimes this is a safety issue. Especially in roommate situations. I believe if any person was admitted because they are a danger to themselves and others, they shouldn’t be around others unsupervised or even super close to them.

Receiving help is the most important thing someone with a mental illness can do for themselves. But unfortunately, the right help is not always given or available. Mental illness should not be something to be ashamed about or thought of any differently from physical illnesses. The two can be quite the same, mental pain can eventually lead to physical pain. For example, a lot of people have gone to doctors complaining of body pain or headaches which were revealed to be due to stress.

Teens suffer from many conditions including anxiety, depression, self- harm, eating disorders, mania, other mental health conditions. But only a few who need help get it. This goes to show that there is a serious issue if kids can’t even get the help they need. This can have a real negative effect on the person’s life growing up. It can even lead to suicide. Substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide are very common in teens and should be looked out for more.

Anxiety is also an issue that is looked over because people believe it isn’t real or its over dramatized but it is not. Anxiety has affected me pretty much my whole life and I have never been able to receive the proper care for it due to financial lack. It should be normalized more and not looked down upon. This is also a huge issue in the workplace which I believe is somewhat included in this government system. Having anxiety and a job doesn’t really mix well and it’s hard to get managers to understand what position you work best because of it. It should be more accepted in the work environment and employers should help find the best position for the employee.

Social media is the last the topic I will be discussing in this paper. There have always been sayings of how social media has ruined our generation and, in some ways, I believe that to be very true. From online bullying to comparing yourself to others, social media can have a real negative impact on your mind and what you think about yourself. Teens have the most involvement in social media and it tends to leave them depressed, anxious, or too worried about trying to prove themselves to people online. It has also been reported to lead to addiction. People can really lose themselves and forget all about the real world if they get too caught up in an online one. Social media also needs to be better as a whole, it is a very hateful place at times when it doesn’t need to be.

In conclusion, mental health is a very serious issue and should be dealt with better. Teens and adults should be taken care of the most while dealing with this because it affects them the most. People need to demand better mental health services because patients with mental disorders are the most vulnerable population that needs to be handled with care. The public needs to be aware of the negative effects that can affect the lives of those who have mental illness. I believe that if the treatment options for mentally ill people got better and the care system along with the government work on a lot of things to help citizens the substance abuse, overdose, and suicide rates would reduce. Hopefully one day changes will be made for the better.

Mental illnesses are health problems that involve how people thinks, behaves, feels, and intercourse with people. Besides, mental illness does not distinguish; it can affect anyone no matter of their age, gender, race, religion, background or other aspects of cultural identity. While mental illness can befall at any age, three-fourths of all mental illness starts at the age of 24 (American Psychiatric Association, n.d.). There are many types of mental disorder and the common types of mental disorder are obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, depression and sleep disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, repeated thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. It can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships. The common sign of an OCD person is he or she will frequently wash his or her hand. Besides, he or she can’t manage his or her thoughts or behaviors, even when those thoughts or behaviors are recognized as extravagant. Next, anxiety disorders carry more than impermanent worry or fear. There are few types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and various phobia-related disorders. Furthermore, another common type of mental illness is depression. It is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s daily activities. Moreover, sleep disorders are conditions that result in changes in the way that you sleep. Symptoms of sleep disorders include feel sleepy during the daytime and have trouble falling asleep at night. Having an irregular sleep and wake cycle is another symptom of a sleep disorder.

Furthermore, there are statistics prove that people that work in the entertainment industry tend to have a higher risk in mental illness. According to a report by Victoria University in Australia, the report identified performing artists, performing arts support workers and broadcast, film and recording media operators. The report reveals that these workers suffer from the effects of uncertain employment, low pay, always shift work and the need to be willing and able to work and under all conditions. The sector’s employees have three times the level of sleep disorders than the general population. This causes serious flow-on effects on their relationships with family and friends. Arts workers also experience symptoms of anxiety ten-times higher than the general population, and depression symptoms five-times higher. They have higher rates of suicidal ideation, planning and attempts than the general population, and their use and misuse of drugs and alcohol are significantly greater.

According to Cal Strode from the Mental Health Foundation, the environment in the entertainment area can affect workers’ mental health and wellbeing, with insecure contracts, low rate of pay and anti-social working hours. In some condition, performing artists are often asked to work without being paid. Therefore, it is hard to maintain a healthy sense of self when a person is not satisfied with their work. According to Malcolm Sinclair, actor and president of Equity, mental illness has become an issue to the workers in the entertainment industry as the workers often suffer from the stress of short-term contracts and irregular work time. An Australia Council report released in 2010 found more than half the country’s artists were making less than $10,000 a year from their creative pursuits, no matter of the time they put in. The hours they sacrificed for their work has put them into a higher risk of getting obesity and cardiovascular disease through to sleep problems and other mental health problems.

For instance, Robin Williams was one of the world’s best-loved actors and comedians. Unfortunately, Robin Williams passed away at the age of 63, on August 11, 2014, at his home in Paradise Cay, California. The Chicago-born actor died by hanging himself after being misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s and falling into a state of depression. Robin had been suffering from diffuse Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disorder which causes slowed responses, physical rigidity and sometimes depression. His publicist has said her client was suffering from ‘severe depression’ before his death. Eventually, he suffered problems with his memory, and with intense paranoia. Another example of people that diagnose in mental illness in the entertainment industry is Choi Jin-ri (Sulli), a former member of the Korean girl band (f)x and an actress. As a South Korean celebrity, Sulli stood out for her individuality. She was special in the boldness with which she shared her life online. She refused to grovel or apologize when she was criticized. Unfortunately, she was found dead at the age of 25 in her home south of Seoul. She previously spoke about her struggles with anxiety, opening about her mental health in her 2018 reality star Jinri Store. According to her sharing, she admitted that she has social phobia and having panic disorder since her childhood time. She debuted with f(x) in 2009, left the girl band on hiatus in July 2014, after struggling with the abuse and malicious comments she received online. She withdrew from the band officially a year later and turned her attention to acting, although She made her solo debut in June this year with her single album ‘Goblin’.

The confused beliefs and purported findings have primarily arisen as both creativity and mental illness involve deviations. Symptoms of mental disorder differ from normal thinking and behavior, while creativity requires special or unique capacities. Nevertheless, there are sharp differences in effects: mental illness symptoms—compulsions, obsessions, delusions, panic attacks, depression, and personality disorders-deviate in stereotyped and frequently banal ways, whereas creativity involves novel and rich results. There are two other studies frequently cited in support of a link between mental illness and creativity. The first was conducted by Kay Redfield Jamison, best-known for her fascinating book ‘An Unquiet Mind’. The research was based on interviews with poets, novelists, biographers and artists. A total of 47 people took part, but there was no control group, so any comparisons can only be made with average rates in a population. She found surprising levels of mental illness. For example, half the poets had sought treatment at one time or another. This sounds like a high number, but as critics have pointed out, it is based on just nine people. Therefore, the samples are not representative as it is taken in a small number of people. Besides, in a review from the Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, of 29 studies that evaluated possible associations between creativity and mental illness, 15 found no evidence to link creativity and mental illness, 9 found positive evidence, and 5 had unclear findings. Hence, from this review, there is limited scientific evidence to link creativity and mental illness.

In a nutshell, people who work in the entertainment industry tend to have a higher risk of having a mental illness. However, there are no clear links prove that there is a connection between creativity and mental illness due to the samples taken for the research paper are not representative. Moreover, one of the adversities is that it is not simple to define or measure creativity.

Many teens have mental health problems that get noticed by someone near them while many times it goes unnoticed. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens (Klass), making it where teens are more likely to die from a suicide than in a traffic accident, allowing kids to be screened reduces the risk of possible future suicides that could occur. In the United States, seventeen percent of teens had seriously thought and considered suicide with more than fourteen percent had planned (SOS: Signs of Suicide). Screening children for mental illnesses should be allowed in schools, it will decrease the amount of children with bad outcomes due to not having any care. Letting schools screen teenagers for mental illnesses helps prevent and tell the students and the families that are going to possibly be struggling through finding out that their friend or family member has a mental illness. Schools screening, children provide the perfect space for them to take the test due to already being there most days, it also helps benefits kids, because it could help improve their education and behavior if finding out they need help and possibly getting the mental health care they need.

Most often teens have psychiatric problems that are not recognized by anyone, children spend around nine hundred to one thousand hours in school per year (‘Time in School: How Does the U.S. Compare’) leaving teachers and staff to be with them usually. Allowing screening to happen at schools would allow staff to also be on the lookout for mentally ill students who need help but do not say anything and be more aware of what students may need a little more help. Numerous amounts teens have psychiatric problems that aren’t recognized by adults (Klass), screening for mental health illness will allow each adult to have a slight knowledge of what looking for mental illness looks like between depression, anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders and many more due to them being told what the signs are looking for each. The people that could notice first a difference in a student are teachers and staff because they have extended contact with the children on a daily basis, they are in the best position to recognize early patterns of their behavior. Teachers deal with these kids constantly and they would start recognizing changes in their students and can watch them. Allowing schools screening is a perfect atmosphere for the students to take the questionnaire because they already use to it. Screening in schools provide a unique opportunity that treats and identifies mental health conditions by serving teens where they already are (Nami). By serving teens the questionnaire where they already are means that parents don’t have to take time out of there days to take them to the doctors.

Screening children benefits them and helps them get the care they need and improves education and behavior. Allowing children to be screened at young ages helps improve their future because the can get the help they need from early age they can start showing signs as early as eleven years old (Eunjung Cha) and is when they should start being checked for any mental illnesses. Richard J. Chung, an assistant professor at Duke says, “Screening for mental health illnesses during adolescence enables healthcare providers to catch the problems early and to start treatment which results in great benefits for the children” (Noonan). Catching the problems early will help the children that end up diagnosed with a mental illness get the help they need early on in life than waiting until they are older and struggling more. It will help benefit their future. Access to care reduces barriers to learning and improves educational, behavioral and health. Getting the mental help, they need at a young age they will prosper more in education, behavior and health because they will know how to better deal with the problems they are having in different situations. People diagnosed with a mental illness has shown signs five to ten years prior to diagnosis (Bruemmer). Which when screening children in schools could be caught at a young age before their diagnosis starting to make their daily life tasks more difficult.

Many teen suicides can be prevented by screening because most of the time the signs may be clear. Many of the signs maybe clear, but many people get them mixed up with signs of just being a teenager so they don’t do anything about it. Nine out of ten youth die by suicide having mental health conditions, while four out of five gave off clear warning signs (Posner). Having screening will reduce the amount of youth that die by suicide and will give people a knowledge of being around each other to know to look out more for their friends. Many teen suicides can be prevented with a ten- to fifteen-minute questionnaire that will single out at risk teens (Borrell). Singling out at risk teens helps staff of schools get them the help they need or just to keep an eye out for them by letting them knowing that someone is there for them.

Although I believe that schools should screen children for mental illnesses, others believe schools should not be allowed to screen children for mental illnesses. Allen Frances, M.D. and professor at Duke says that “screening children could lead to overdiagnosis and if over diagnosed a teen may have trouble with it” (Noonan). If a teen gets overdiagnosed, they might not find out they were diagnosed until years later and they could possibly get worse. Teens diagnosed could also act out and do worse in schools and their social life once they are told.

Schools may uncover illnesses that families do not have the finance to treat (Kennedy). Letting the schools screen kids could end up uncovering mental illnesses that the child’s family might not be able to afford to give their kid the proper care they need.

This assignment will aim to provide the knowledge to understand the key symptoms of mental health and their treatment, it will go to explore signs of aggressive behavior and how to diffuse and control the situation. It will continue to identify the role of therapeutic communication skills in Mental Health both verbal and non-verbal as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it will identify the different agencies working in the field of mental health and the support that these agencies offer individuals experiencing mental health illnesses.

Mental health condition considers an individual’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Mental health affects an individual’s way of thinking, the way they feel, and how they behave. It is a state in which an individual can recognize their ability to adapt to changes and cope with the stresses of everyday life, whether they can handle simple or complexed situations, how well they are able to make sound decisions and how well they relate to others in society (Mental health.gov, 2020).

The key symptoms of mental health illnesses are as follows: extreme mood changes highs and lows confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate excessive fears or worries or extreme feeling of guilt withdraw from friends’ families and activities significant tiredness, low energy, problems sleeping and change in hygiene.

The impact of mental health problems can be identified in three key stages emotional, physical, and behavioral. Individuals may experience feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, and stress. The impact of physical mental health can lead to non-insulin diabetes or even cardiovascular disease and some individuals may consume excessive alcohol intake and drug misuse. Behavioral stage can be signs of self-harming, anger or even aggression, some may experience delusions, and some might engage in risky behaviors (Mayoclinic, 2021).

There are several management and treatments approaches that could be used in mental health illness, talking treatment therapies, arts and creative therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), complementary and alternative therapies and medications being the commonest. There are antidepressants which is probably the most prevalent of all the medications used for those individual’s experiencing depression, anxiety and eating problems. Antipsychotic medication is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia or even extreme cases of anxiety. If suffering from sleeping problems, then the doctor might likely prescribe sleeping pills or minor tranquilizers to help keep you calm. Lithium is a type of stabilizer that doctors will prescribe an individual experiencing extreme mood swings such as bipolar disorder (Mind, 2021). These antipsychotic medications will not cure the psychosis part of mental health and when taking on a long-term basis can be highly addictive, and with all medication can have a numerous amount of side effects. However, these medications can reduce and control many of the symptoms certain individuals are experiencing. Many of the medications come in tablet form, but for those who do have a hard time swallowing tablets could also be taken in liquid form (Better Health Channel, 2019).

Another manageable treatment that could be used in mental health illness is the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a type of talking therapy which helps change the way the individual thinks and behave. Several researches show that cognitive behavioral treatment, is the second commonest of all the treatments used to treat individuals suffering with anxiety and depression as well as other mental and physical health problems. With all treatments comes with its advantages and disadvantages, cognitive behavior therapy can be as effective as the medications used to treat mental health illness, and after treatment can be a practical and helpful strategy to the individual’s everyday life to manage with future stresses and other difficulties. Strong commitment is needed from the individual, the cognitive behavior therapist can only help and give advice, they cannot make the problem disappear, only the individual can do this with sheer cooperation. Cognitive behavior therapy may not be suitable for individuals who experience complexed mental health needs or who has learning difficulties and does not address factors such as society and families that can have a weighty impact on the individual’s health and well-being (CBT Clinic, 2021).

According to Healthline (2019), aggressive behavior can cause physical and emotional harm to others. It may range from verbal abuse to physical abuse. It can also involve harming personal property. Some signs of aggressive behavior can be harassing or threatening to harm someone through online social media, texted messages, and emails. Punching, slapping and or kicking a person or object, it can be destruction of property or invading another person’s personal space. Unfortunately, aggressive behavior can even be as grave as sexual assault and shooting or stabbing. Aggressive behavior can be caused by a numerous of factors such as genetics, individuals with a family history of mental illness for example bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, autistic spectrum or schizophrenia to name a few, is highly likely to struggle with aggression, other factors such as the Environment in which you live can influence you displaying signs of aggressive behavior, this can be a result of someone else’s actions of aggressive behavior, surviving a trauma, the individual could be experiencing stress and frustration, have a history of substance abuse, struggling with relationship skills, or it could be that the individual resides in an area filled with violence and crimes and could have also been a victim of a crime themselves (Valley Behavioral Health System 2021). When faced with controlling violent situations there are some very good strategic ways to diffuse them. Try to stay calm and do not attack or get defensive, observe the situation, and focus on how the individual is behaving. Listen and clarify determine needs, in other words observe and listen, try to find out what is wrong and why they are upset. Another strategy is being empathetic and responsive, show that you care and that you acknowledge them. Find common ground, agreed points or shared vision, this is trying to get a clear picture of what the individual needs and how closely they are to achieving them also what works well and what can be improved on. Clarify boundaries and be clear on set rules. Focus on facts, tasks, and priorities, support the individual to not focus so much on their emotions or the past but to fucus more on the future. Show interest by following up communication, summarizing what they have said. Work on a solution and agree on a strategic plan of action as a way forward (SmartCompany, 2015).

Mental health professionals will need to know how to communicate with patients that suffers with mental health problems, such communications are therapeutic verbal and non-verbal communication skills. This will help the patients to manage with their problems more and help them feel in control (Quill, 2021). Non-verbal communications are: active listening using non-verbal cues such nodding of the head will show the patient that the professional is listening, showing interest and understands what they say – no response, non-judge mental, accepts patients’ feelings, beliefs, and thoughts. Silence can be a very effective non-verbal communication, this gives patients the time and space to think through and process the topic of a conversation (American Nurse, 2021). A hand touch, or a hug helps to improve an individual’s mental health, provides a sense of warmth, and makes them feel cared for (Psychreg, 2020).

Verbal communications can be:

• Hope and humor. Sharing of hope and humor can assist patients to get through a present situation, professionals can then build a rapport with the patients, and the patient can be in a positive state of mind.
• Reflecting: this is when a patient asks the professional for advice with a problem or a situation they are experiencing. The professionals can then revert the question back to the patient making it so that the patient becomes responsible for their own choices of action, it encourages patients to think of ways to solve the situation themselves.
• Giving recognition. According to American Nurse (2021), recognition acknowledges a patient’s behavior and highlights it without giving an overt compliment. A compliment can sometimes be taken as condescending, especially when it concerns a routine task like making the bed. However, saying something like ‘I noticed you took all of your medications’ draws attention to the action and encourages it without requiring a compliment.

I believe I am highly skilled at making individuals smile or laugh by the use of humor, I also feel that I am a very active listener by listening and only responding to an individual with cues such as the use of eye contact and nodding of head. I do believe that I can improve myself in areas such as touch, because I like to hug a lot, I sometimes forget that I need to ask the individual first, this might be ok with a close friend or relative but could come across in the wrong way if working with individuals with mental health. I also need to improve on using closed ended questions only when necessary, especially if I am trying to get the individual to elaborate more on their feelings and situations when speaking.

There are a several agencies that work in the field of mental health. Mind Group provides information and support on mental illness. Rethink Mental Illness supports people who experiencing severe mental illness and complexities using various therapies networking and local group sessions. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust-Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive mental healthcare service for residents of Birmingham and Solihull, and a range of specialist mental health services to communities across the West Midlands and beyond. Forward Thinking Birmingham Mental Health Services is the provider of mental health services for people to the age of 25. The service can be accessed through referrals from social care and health services for counselling. These agencies work in partnership to provide mental health information and support to individuals experiencing severe mental illness or complexities. This support if offered through networking in community hubs, hospital admissions, talking therapies, crisis interventions and counselling.

In conclusion of this assignment, I have identified that mental illness is more widespread of an ailment than first anticipated, manifesting itself in many ways and can affect all individuals. Mental health is not just a psychological form but also can be identified to affect your physical wellbeing. It is therefore important for mental health support agencies work together in partnership to minimize the suffering and stigma around mental health illnesses.

By dissecting the factors and similarities found in the psychological illnesses of the most dangerous serial killers of our time, this essay will assert that all serial killers are in some way the same when it comes to the cognitive processes of the brain. Using our discernment of crime causation and the intertwining crime theories related to mass murder will better our understanding of how and why serial killers are created. The most prominent theories we will be looking at are Rational Choice theory, Strain theory, Social learning theory and Biological Determinism theory.

According to Allely C, Minnis H et al. (2014), a murderer is someone who kills another with “malice aforethought”, however, premeditation isn’t a requirement. A mass murder is someone who kills multiple people all within a short period of time, which distinguishes them from serial killers, who murder multiple people over a long period of time. Traditionally, to be a noted as a serial killer one must have killed three or more people. Although the three types of murderers listed all have similar traits, their dissimilar intentions differentiate their personalities as a whole.

Rational Choice Theory occurs on the premise that the possible advantages of committing a specific act or crime outweigh the possible disadvantages in relation to the offender (Cornish D et al. 1987). Once the perpetrator has made a decision based on greater pleasure gained than pain, it is to them the most ‘Rational’ decision to go through with the crime, whether it be gaining money to help feed themselves and their family, committing a crime that would result in them feeling a proud sense of vengefulness or murdering someone who has done them wrong . This way of thinking is prevalent in the majority of people when it comes to day-to-day events, important life choices or even business decisions. However, these extreme acts of violence and criminal activity stem from a much larger spectrum of behaviour that the average person is exposed to and many different factors affect the thought process of a person relating to committing a crime (Allely C et al. 2014).

Mullen P (2000) associates the presence of a mental disorder to influence the likelihood of an individual to commit murder. This article dissects the shrinking number of such crimes related to the large variety of mental disorders, as well as the resulting political cover generated by the public. Mullen P (2000, pp.575) says that the “community expects mental health professionals to minimise the risks they face from mentally disordered people” which separate the two factions, and in turn leads to a more inclusive imbalance . The divide between the two groups supports his statement, for which he asserts “The perpetrators of massacres are predominantly awkward, obsessive individuals who are overwhelmed by resentment at their own powerlessness” Mullen P (2000, pp.575), and displays the effect that a disagreement across different groups can have. This study presents a in-depth understanding of the perpetrator and their subjects, as well as explains how the two as a unity couldn’t acquaint to the other. Rational Choice theory ties in with the cognitive influences a person experiences due to various mental illnesses, but also links closely to Biological Determinism Theory.

A person’s biology, genetics and mental illnesses can substantially affect the possibility of that person committing a crime, and in some cases, increase the chances of re-offending. Biological Determinism Theory suggests that the genetic identity of a person is what represents them as a potential criminal. According to a study done by Bowles J (2000), serial killers have become so frequent that laws are being created that require youths who display excessive harm to animals to undergo ‘preventative psychiatric counselling’, as showing cruelty towards animals is an early trait of many children who end up as serial killers. Mental illnesses can affect a person’s reward system in that they might misinterpret the levels of pleasure versus pain from a specific crime. For example, Kocsis R (2008) explains serial killers tend to lose all interest in their victims after they are deceased, so they are more likely to extend the period in which the inflict harm to their subjects, simulating horrendous acts of torture to elongate their pleasure. Different mental illnesses and diseases to the brain result in different acts of violence enticed by different reasons for which the crime was committed, serial murder usually falls under short-lived pleasure due to an onset childhood illness or a brain injury sometimes shown through odd and gruesome acts to animals.

Serial killers tend to encapsulate homogeneous traits when closely examined, which in turn allows for a better understanding of the origins of psychopathy in a person. In a study done by Söderström, A. H. (2005), it was discovered that the most frequent juvenile-onset neuropsychiatric disorders in violent offenders were various forms of disruptive behavioural disorders, such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and conduct disorder. However, a considerable minority of these offenders were known to have Tic disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder and mental retardation/learning disabilities. Aside from the wide variety of ASDs (Autism Spectrum Disorders), a study done by Stone (2009) noticed a connection between serial killers and head injuries, going as far as suggesting that for every four perpetrators, one has suffered a head injury or a severe condition affecting the brain — such as Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) (Angrilli A et al. 2013) — throughout their early childhood.

Strain Theory operates on the basis that many people have similar aspirations and goals, but dissimilar resources and opportunities, which in turn may cause individuals to commit unethical ways — mostly crimes — of achieving said aspirations. Eriksson L et al. (2013) explores the assorted experiences both men and women feel prior to murdering an intimate partner, and explains how the tend to undergo different feelings and emotions. Accounts of men killing their intimate partner are accompanied by reports of the man ‘losing control, suspecting infidelity, involuntary separation, jealousy and rage’. This differs greatly from what women report, which are almost always ‘feelings of fear and desperation from exposure to domestic violence in social isolation’ (Daly, M. et al. 1988). Men and women who experience strain do so for very different reasons and the reaction to said experiences usually classes a person as a survivor or a murderer.

Emotions of a negative nature, accompanied by feelings of neglect and powerlessness are a primary source when it comes to the relationship between strain and criminal behaviour such as the murder of an intimate partner (Agnew, R. 1992). Research done by (Piquero et al. 2004) shows a stronger connection between anger and interpersonal aggression than burglary, larceny, arson etc. This shines a light on crime as being an unlawful method of dealing with difficult experiences of strain and unwelcome emotions, which would allow the victim of these negative emotions to flee or decrease the level of strain (Kerr K et al. 2015). In the eyes of the offender, crime is a coping mechanism used to release strain and stress against the individual from whom the strain originated (Agnew, R. 1992). Rational Choice, Strain and Biological Determinism theories play themselves into most of all the cases of murder and serial homicide, but some theories are more important than others. General Strain Theory accounts for most interpersonal murders (Piquero et al. 2000), however, cases like these don’t resume with the perpetrators reoffending due to the nature of the crime. It is inevitable that the majority of individuals will be exposed to some sort of strain and unwanted emotions at some point or another, nonetheless, only a very substantial minority end up turning to crime. Rational Choice and Biological Determinism play a larger role than General Strain Theory in that an individual who doesn’t suffer from a childhood-onset mental illness and has grown accustom to social norms is much less likely to react to negative emotions criminally (Agnew, R. 2001). Rational Choice theory suggests the assumption that a perpetrator responds selectively to specific crimes — in their relation to their costs, benefits and opportunities — and whether or not to supplant their attention (Cornish D 1987).

Although General Strain Theory may account for a large number of crimes between partners, the offenders are less likely to reoffend, whereas those under the influence of a distorted Rational Choice Theory will reoffend for as long as the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Biological Determinism Theory can sometimes be the causing factor for Rational Choice to even be an option for criminal behaviour. Taking actions towards the overall prevention of biological determinism at a young age that would further lead to the creation of a serial killer would be most beneficial in that stopping a problem from its origins is better than undergoing damage control. In a study examined by Kerr K (2015) onset childhood emotional loneliness was present in six cases of sexual homicide. Mental Illnesses and brain injuries that stem from a young age aren’t the only causes of biological determinism, but also social isolation, as it can be perceived as a form of psychological suffering that can become premise for violent behaviour in the future (Marshall, W. L. 1989). This ties Biological Determinism and Social Learning Theory together as an intertwining factor that causes more problems for an individual to cope with, whether it be criminally or non-criminally. When explored, both General Strain Theory and Rational Choice Theory seem to have an underlying case of Biological Determinism and Social Learning Theory which acts as the root cause of the perpetrators immoral and violent behaviour. The lack of attention to a child’s mental illness can affect their capability to function properly as a grownup and by leaving unattended problems prevalent in the individual’s life, their only permeable solution might be to use criminal activity as a coping mechanism whether to simulate attention and proper consequential response from a higher authority.

In conclusion, children who have shown obvious traits of an early psychopath should be admitted into a facility where they are consistently monitored and where they attend compulsory counselling so that the early onset issues can be resolved with proper measures. This will ensure a lower risk for a troubled and young individual burdened with a mental illness to become murders and serial killers. Teaching them the correct way to cope with negative emotions will help them immensely in their life time and may — as a result of psychological and neuropsychiatric treatment — save countless lives. As stated by Bowles J (2000), individuals who have shown traits of a future psychopath and are forced — by law — to undergo psychological treatment are less likely to commit crimes in the future as they are taught the correct ways of coping with negative emotions and unwanted stress. Rational Choice theory, Strain theory, Social Learning theory and Biological Determinism theory all play a part in the making of a murderer and a serial killer, but taking into consideration that Biological Determinism plays the biggest part and finding more ways to prevent individuals to reacting negatively would highly benefit those who are the victims of mental illnesses, as it would benefit those around them as well.