It's no secret that stress levels have reached an all-time high in today's world. We have become a society that is constantly on the go, and our ability to handle stress has been taken for granted.  The ongoing global pandemic also created a major shift in our daily activities, which can be difficult for some. 

Mental health is a topic that often needs to be talked about, but not everyone feels comfortable enough to do so. It can be hard for people to call out issues with mental health because it's hard to talk about anything that could potentially make someone else feel bad, or make them uncomfortable.

So, what causes poor mental health? What triggers an episode? Why do some people who seem healthy can get mental illnesses, and why are some people more prone to mental illnesses than others?

The biopsychosocial model helps us understand this. 

What is the biopsychosocial model? 

One of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century was the biopsychosocial model of health.

Introduced in 1977, by George Engel,  an American Psychiatrist, the biopsychosocial model is a holistic approach to understanding and treating a patient that aims to take into account biological, psychological, and social factors. This medical framework views each individual as a complex system influenced by their genetic makeup, socioeconomic status, environment, culture, spirituality, and personal experiences. 

The model proposes that biological factors are just one part of the picture in determining how well someone is mentally. It also recognizes the importance of psychological and social components in contributing to a person's mental state. 

It is an alternative to the biomedical model, which only focuses on the biological causes for disease and disability. The biomedical model treated people who have mental health conditions as being ill in the same way that someone can be physically ill. 

Now, let us dig deeper into the three components of the biopsychosocial model: biological, psychological, and social. 

Biological Factors

The biological factors affecting mental health can comprise the following:

• Genetics: 

The vulnerability to mental illnesses can be passed on in families via genes. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that if someone in the family suffers from mental health disorders, the other family members will automatically develop it.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there is a growing body of research that found that certain genes and gene variations are associated with mental disorders. 

Knowing the family’s mental health history can help identify if someone is at a higher risk for certain disorders. The doctor can use it to prescribe ways to reduce the risk and enable that person and the doctor to watch for early warning signs. 

• Prenatal damage: 

Some evidence shows that a disturbance of early fetal brain development or birth trauma, such as lack of oxygen to the brain, may have a role in the development of certain disorders like autism spectrum disorder.

• Infections: 

Certain infections have been associated with the worsening of mental illness and brain damage.

• Brain defects or injury in certain areas of the brain
• Substance abuse: 

Long-term drug or alcohol abuse has been linked to several psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, and paranoia.

• Other factors:

 Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins such as lead, mercury, and aluminum may also affect the brain chemistry and may play a role in the development of mental diseases.

Psychological Factors 

Psychological factors affecting mental health can include things like how we interpret events as signifying something negative about ourselves, or not having the kind of self-esteem that helps us cope with life’s challenges: an early loss of a parent or other significant people in our lives, neglect, and severe psychological trauma suffered as a child (emotional, physical, or sexual abuse). 

Social Factors

Social factors play a large role in mental illness and psychological well-being. These include gender, social class, race and ethnicity, and household patterns.

Social expectations and norms; the presence of other people around us which can be either positive or negative; and our exposure to media and technology一all affect our mental health.

Our quality of life which is impacted by the availability of resources to meet daily needs, such as educational and job opportunities, living wages, or healthful foods also influence our mental health.  Living in a community exposed to crimes, violence, and social disorder is linked with higher levels of stress hormones and lower academic achievement. 

The advantage of the biopsychosocial model in the workplace

The biopsychosocial model has many advantages in the workplace. It provides a framework for understanding psychological disorders, which are prevalent in the workforce. The biopsychosocial approach allows employees to be seen as more than just their disorder, but as complete people with multiple aspects of personality and life experiences that contribute to who they are.  It also shows us that the workplace has the ability to influence one’s mental health.

Employers should use the biopsychosocial to help find ways to positively influence the employees. 

Employers can do the following:

• Create a program establishing exercise routines in the workplace
• Initiate healthy eating habits. 
• Provide psychological training that can help build resilience, and strengthen coping skills and stress handling. 
• Recognize employees’ efforts to boost self-esteem.
• Implement activities that can foster good relationships between employees.
• Easy access to mental health care.

These may be small, but they can surely create a positive impact on the mental well-being of the workers within the workplace.

Company culture is important to employee engagement. When employees are taken care of, they are happier and more productive, resulting in a better work environment for everyone.

The biggest problem can happen when we don't realize we have a mental health issue until it's too late. 

We need to understand that we all have the potential to be mentally well or unwell. While there is a genetic predisposition to it, it can also be affected by our life circumstances, how we think and feel, and who we spend time with. 

Recognizing the factors that lead to our triggers is an important part of understanding how they impact us, and recognizing what triggers us is a big step in finding ways to avoid them. By understanding our triggers we can be more aware of them and try to avoid letting them set off negative emotions. For things we cannot control and change, we can always seek help from professionals.