Mental illness causes a person to think, act and feel differently from others.
Many factors combine to cause mental illness. These include genetic inheritance, drug abuse, diet, family environment, social and cultural background, life stresses and physical illness.
No one is to blame.
You are not to blame.

Some types of mental illness include :
 

Depression
Depression describes a group of illnesses characterized by excessive or long term depressed mood which affects the person's life. The most severe form of clinical depression is called a depressive episode, which can come on without apparent cause, although in some cases a distressing event might trigger the condition.
The person becomes low-spirited, loses enjoyment of life and suffers disturbed sleep patterns. During a depressive episode the person can loose their appetite, lack concentration and energy and may lose weight. Feelings of guilt are also common.
Sometimes feelings of hopelessness and despair can lead to thoughts of suicide.

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Bi-Polar Mood Disorder
Bipolar mood disorder is the new name for what was called manic depressive illness. The new name better describes the extreme mood swings: from depression and sadness to elation and excitement. People with bipolar mood disorder experience recurrent episodes of depressed and elated moods.
When a person is in a manic state they may exhibit some of the following symptoms: elevated mood; increased energy and over activity; reduced need for sleep; irritability; rapid thinking and speech; lack of inhibitions; grandiose plans and beliefs; and lack of insight.
Many people with bipolar mood disorder experience depressive episodes. The depression usually occurs without an obvious cause. The person looses interest and pleasure in activities enjoyed before. They may withdraw and stop seeing friends, avoid social activities and cease simple tasks such as showering and shopping. They are overwhelmed by a deep sadness, loose their appetite, cannot concentrate and may experience associated feelings of guilt or hopelessness. Some attempt suicide as life becomes meaningless or they feel too guilty to go on.

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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia interferes with the mental functioning of a person and, in the long term, may cause changes to a person's personality. The onset of the illness may be rapid, with acute symptoms developing over several weeks, or it may be slow, developing over months or even years. During onset, the person often withdraws from others, gets depressed and anxious and develops extreme fears or obsessions.
The major symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations and thought disorder. Other symptoms include loss of drive, blunted expression of emotions, social withdrawal, lack of insight or awareness of other conditions and thinking difficulties.

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Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are a group of illnesses characterized by persistent feelings of high anxiety. There are feelings of continual or extreme discomfort and tension, with the fear of panic attacks, usually without discernible cause. People are likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder with their level of anxiety and feelings of panic are so extreme that they significantly interfere with daily life and stop them doing what they want to do. Anxiety disorders affect the way the person thinks, feels and behaves and, if not treated, cause considerable suffering and distress.