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Will I get a mental illness?

When your brother or sister is experiencing a mental illness, you might also worry that the same thing will happen to you.

Looking after your own mental health

We all have mental health, and this is something that we can look after, the same as with our physical health. Some good tips for looking after your mental health are:

  • Getting enough sleep
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Taking exercise
  • Avoiding street drugs such as cannabis
  • Talking to others when we feel stressed, upset or worried
These are things that everyone can do, regardless of whether they have someone in their family with a mental illness.

Does mental illness run in families?

When your brother or sister has been diagnosed with a mental health problem, you might worry about whether the same thing will happen to you in the future. You might wonder if mental illness is something that runs in families.

Although in some cases it has been found that people in the same family might have the same mental illness, there are lots of different things that can cause a mental illness and in most cases, it is far more likely that you will not develop a mental illness than you will. However, it is also a good idea for everyone to look after their mental health.

Should I be worried when I feel up or down?

Everyone’s mental health goes up and down at times. There are times in everyone’s lives when they might feel anxious or stressed, for instance when studying for an exam or starting a new job, or when they might feel down, for instance after being bereaved or at the end of a relationship.

You might find that you become sad, worried or anxious because of tensions in the family when your brother or sister is feeling unwell, which is also a natural feeling that siblings sometimes experience. It is a good idea to find somebody to talk to about these feelings, for instance a close friend, your parents, other relatives, a teacher or a counsellor at school, university or college.

It is normal to experience these ups and downs throughout life and often they will be nothing to worry about. If you, or someone you know, becomes worried that these ups or downs are making things hard for you in day-to-day life, you might like to talk to a parent, school counsellor or visit your GP to find out about support you could be offered. 

My sibling's problems feel bigger than my own

Some siblings are worried that their own problems are not as important in comparison to their siblings, or that they will worry their parents too much if they talk about their own mental health, but you must remember that your feelings are just as important and no one would expect you to keep them to yourself.

If you do not feel that you can talk to your parents, then you could talk to another relative, your GP, a teacher or a mental health professional about your concerns.