Does Mental Illness Run in Families?

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No one knows for sure what causes mental illness, but it has been noticed that in some families mental illness develops in more than one member. This factsheet will look at what extent mental health conditions are inherited by looking at the following questions:

1. Are there specific genes that cause mental illness?
2. In what ways could genes make someone vulnerable to the development of a mental illness?
3. What role do environmental factors play?
4. Should I start a family if I have a mental illness?
5. Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk of developing a mental illness?