Can My Mental Health Issues Be Passed Down to My Kids?

You may have been scared at some point to have children because you wondered, “can my mental health issues be passed down to my kids?” It is a common and very important question that we ask. Of course we don’t want to condemn our children to the same problems we have had to endure. We know in fact that certain mental health disorders are heritable to some degree so you may be scared to take that chance. I hope to explore this topic and see what those chances really are and what is within our own control to prevent it.

Although your mental health issues can influence how likely your children are to experience them, there are so many other factors that influence their genes and emotions that you are able to control. Focusing on these things that you can control can help those predispositions to never be a problem for them.

How Heritable Are Mental Health Issues?

Just about every mental health issue or disorder has a genetic factor. So if it is in our genes, that means it can be passed down to our kids if we have it. However, just because a mental health disorder has a genetic factor doesn’t mean it is purely genetic. And there are also disorders that appear to be more affected by genes than others.

For example, depression is moderately heritable at around 40%. So if someone has depression, about 40% of it is attributed to their genes. However, there are a few disorders that have a stronger genetic link such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorder. These disorders may have around an 80% heritability. So yes, there are certain disorders that are more heritable than others based on our current research. So the first thing to consider would be what mental health disorder you are concerned about passing down and researching the specific heritability of that disorder. You may find that it is less than you think.

Also, it is hard to know how much of something is based on genetics and how much of it is based on being in the same environment. If a parent raises a child in the same environment that contributed to their mental health issues, it makes it more likely that the child will develop them as well. So you may attribute it to genes but maybe it’s just because the environment was the same. So yes, there are genetic factors we have found regarding mental illness, but it is certainly not 100%. If anything, genes cause a predisposition to developing mental illnesses if placed under certain circumstances or stressors. But, some may carry a genetic predisposition all their lives and never develop the disorder due to the way they live.

To understand these dispositions it is also important to understand epigenetics. This refers to how our behaviors and environment can affect how certain genes are expressed or interpreted. So outside forces can affect gene expression. For this reason, triggers such as high stress or trauma may be required to bring about a mental illness in a person. So if we are able to change our environment and behaviors, we can make the expressions of mental illness less likely for ourselves and our children.

What Can We Do to Prevent Mental Illness in Our Children?

Mental illnesses are generally brought on by intense mental stressors. These can affect us more  if we aren’t resilient in the first place. So you should first build resilience in your children. This starts with having a stable home preferably with both parents in the home as well. Basic needs should be met and it should be a safe place both physically and emotionally.

The parenting style which has seen the most success is an authoritative parenting style. This means that essentially you are not too lenient but not too much like a dictator. You show love and foster trust but you set firm ground rules and don’t give in to a child’s demands. The children know the reason behind rules, not just because you said so. This helps children to have more structure and confidence in their parents as well. It also provides space for them to be able to talk to you. 

Teach your children how to value work so that they learn that hard work is rewarded and that they can affect their circumstances. This teaches them to control outcomes versus being a victim. A victim mentality is very harmful to mental strength and resilience because bad things will happen and they will just let them dictate their happiness if they play the victim card.

Take care of your child’s nutrition. Help them to have a balanced diet of natural foods and enough carbs, protein, and fats so that their brain develops properly. Get them into a sport or teach them the value of physical exercise. Do physical activities with them to make it fun. Keep them away from smartphones as much as you can. Many believe that much of the mental health challenges that seem so prevalent in today’s society are a result of our addiction to smartphones and young minds are even more impressionable. A good rule of thumb is to mimic somewhat of how our grandfathers were raised with discipline, work ethic, respect, and less technology, and you should see much better results.

One’s decision to have children is a very personal matter, but we just wanted to show that a parent’s mental illness does not instantly doom their child to their fate. They may have a higher chance of mental illness but that is where you come in to make sure they have a life and tools conducive to good mental health. That way those genes lay dormant and they enjoy abundant lives. 

As always, consult with your doctor or therapist for any questions about how your mental health could affect your children.