What defines mental illness?

Mental illness is defined as disorders that impact a person's thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. This definition encompasses a wide range of psychological and emotional conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, among others. Mental illnesses can significantly affect how individuals perceive themselves and relate to others, thereby influencing their daily functioning and overall quality of life. Recognizing that these disorders affect cognitive and emotional processes is key to understanding mental health and the importance of appropriate treatment and support.

The other potential definitions do not capture the core aspects of mental illness. While physical health disorders are indeed important, they fall outside the realm of mental illness, which is explicitly concerned with psychological aspects. Similarly, while social skills can be impacted by mental illness, they are not defining characteristics of the disorders themselves. Lastly, although genetics can play a role in the development of some mental health conditions, attributing mental illness solely to hereditary factors is an oversimplification. Mental health issues are influenced by a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and psychological factors, making a more holistic view imperative.