Dr A Thirumoorthy Professor & Head Department of Psychiatric Social Work NIMHANS, Bengaluru. Dr. Sojan Antony & Dr. K. Janakiraman Assistant Professors, Department of Psychiatric Social Work NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

1. Vulnerability to Mental Illness
Dr A Thirumoorthy
Professor & Head
Department of Psychiatric Social Work
NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
Dr. Sojan Antony & Dr. K. Janakiraman
Assistant Professors, Department of Psychiatric Social Work
NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

2. Introduction
“Mental illness” means a substantial disorder of
thinking, mood, perception, orientation or
memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior,
capacity to recognize reality or ability to meet the
ordinary demands of life, mental conditions
associated with the abuse of alcohol and drugs
(Mental Health Act, 2017).

3. Introduction
• Vulnerability can be
• Genetic
• Environmental
It can be associated with age or gender.

4. Genetic Vulnerability: In brief
• Genes are responsible
• Genes from both parents
• Gene-environment interaction
• Genetic counselling is important

5. Reasons for Mental illness
• Neurochemical imbalance causes mental
illness.
• Brain Functional issues cause mental illness.
• Brain structural abnormalities are not well
established in mental illnesses
• Changes in Dopamine
• Changes in Serotonin

6. Severe Mental Disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar Affective Disorder
• Schizoaffective Disorder
• Persistent Delusional Disorders

7. Common Mental Disorders
• Depression
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Social Phobia
• Panic Disorder
• Dysthymia
• Substance Use Disorders

8. Mental Disorders among Children
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Anxiety Disorders
• Conduct Disorder

9. Environmental Vulnerability
faced by Children
• Parenting
• Family environment
• Domestic violence
• Single parent
• School environment
• Child Sexual Abuse
• Poor academic achievement
• Substance use

10. Environmental Vulnerability
faced by Adults
• Stress
• Family Dysfunction
• Exposure to domestic violence
• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Life events (Example: Death of the spouse,
marriage and Childbirth)
• Disasters

11. Mental Disorders among Elderly
• Depression
• Dementia
• Late onset psychosis
• Anxiety disorders

12. Environmental Vulnerability
faced by Elderly
• Death of the spouse
• Lack of support from children
• Chronic Illness
• Terminal Illness
• Suffering from Dementia

13. Strategies to reduce vulnerability
• Healthy family environment
• Healthy family Functioning
• Parenting style
• Child friendly school
• Prevention of Substance abuse
• Poverty eradication

14. Strategies to reduce vulnerability
• Life skills training
• Stress management
• Prevention of sexual abuse
• Workplace based mental health programme
• Physical Activity: Exercise

15. Conclusion
• Understanding and reducing vulnerability will
decrease the prevalence of mental illnesses.
• Social Workers can reduce social risks factors
of mental illnesses.

16. Thank you