'Did I inherit mental illness?' BBC News

When James Longman was nine, his father who had schizophrenia, killed himself. James, who suffers from depression himself, has often wondered whether there is a genetic link in mental health.
He met scientists at King's College London who are developing a technique to help patients improve their mental health.
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[@personface5457]

Well done James. Your honesty and openness regarding depression is much appreciated. I've been suffering for depression for the last couple of years and it's brought me to my knees. The loss of my job, my house and my sense of self worth. It's hard to put your life together whilst at your weakest, but I've now been diagnosed and am on antidepressants. I wish you well with your career James, and thank you for sharing your story.

[@butterflygirl3359]

Schizophrenia, manic depression; these individuals are smart, creative, caring, and they suffer so. Their emotions are raw, connections deep. They are the hottest temperatures, the brightest colors. They are valuable, as are their experiences. We can learn so much from listening to them and trying to understand.

[@oskadavid2964]

He is a very articulate and good interviewer he should do it for a living.

[@cocoaorange1]

He is a journalist, he works for ABC.

[@josyjosy7495]

First I suffered all the childhood from the insanity of my dad. Then I suffered from his gift to me : bipolar disorder. The only way out if possible : full acceptance -this is my life, my curse comes with a lot of blessings as well.

[@DavidBrown-vh3lv]

Found this by chance and very glad I watched it. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@lucthin6245]

Having indoor plants has help me. Having plants that purify the air and releasing oxygen is beneficial. VOC and pollution can affect mental health.

[@Raymondreddington3]

I suffer from OCD....its pretty severe

[@pyroteknika4558]

A very informative short documentary, thanks bbc!

[@daretoder]

This is simply incredible.

[@dustywilson5461]

"The researchers therefore hope that training your brain to not feel guilt could help prevent depressive episodes." Yeah that can't possibly lead to worse results ...

[@suzannebernadette371]

Thank you for this @jameslongman

[@tomakafrankconlon3207]

Dont assume if you ask for help even from your own family you will get it. You just go on until you no longer can.

[@brmc6145]

That is very true, you abandon everybody and they abandon you, I have bipolar and it's well known that's what happens,

[@meganjones4244]

Thank you for posting this video BBC. I strongly agree with a great deal of information offered, especially seeing colors darker than they truly are. I have constantly wondered if there may be a link between my mother's depression and my own. Strangely enough, my sister who seems to have taken in many of my father's genes does not. I feel that this is very similar to the set of twins that were interviewed regarding her absence of a mental illness and her brothers presence of bipolar. However, one question I do have regarding the MRI experiment is wouldn't James be a victim of the placebo effect? I do believe that he was informed of the procedure prior to participating. Therefore, couldn't the experiment's results be altered?

[@airsickspace9272]

My family also has a long long history of mental illness. One generation after the next. Luckily I understand anxiety which helps me notice what’s happening and tackle it somewhat. I got meds though which is so useful.

[@underated17]

Do your meds work?

[@airsickspace9272]

@@underated17 yes very much so

[@underated17]

@@airsickspace9272 That's great. I have cptsd and anxiety. I am somewhat afraid to take medications.

[@airsickspace9272]

@@underated17 that’s fair, the thing that gave me confidence is I watched my family member crack and them get onto meds and seeing them be themselves once more. Since we are so closely related they assumed I have the same issue of my seratonin. So I got onto similar meds and it works great. I can literally see the difference in myself and my family member when we’re on or of the meds

[@markorollo.]

surprised there arent any 'just shake it off and get over it' comments, seems to be the popular view of mental illness and other disabilities in this country these days. And the BBC, and other channels to be fair, played a part in helping that attitude to spread

[@AogNubJoshh]

+xneverwalkalonex I think with schizophrenia at least, people realise you can't shake off psychosis. People fail to realise that depression and bipolar are just as real as schizophrenia in terms of neuropathology.

[@phildobson8705]

+xneverwalkalonex In the UK about 1 in 5 people will need treatment for a mental health problem during their life. At some time during their life about 1 in 100 people will suffer an episode of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia occurs in all countries and societies of the world. Schizophrenia affects men and women equally and sufferers come from all walks of life and social backgrounds. Schizophrenia is a major illness. At any one time about 280,000 people are being treated for schizophrenia by the NHS. Schizophrenia is a killer. Sufferers have a 1 in 10 chance of dying by their own hand within ten years of diagnosis. Schizophrenia strikes most often in late teens and early twenties. Slightly later in women than in men. However late onset can occur as late as 70 years old. Schizophrenia runs in families. If you have a parent or sibling with the illness you are more likely to suffer from it yourself. Schizophrenia is not caused by poor parenting or over concerned mothers. Episodes of schizophrenia are often triggered by environmental factors such as stress and by hormonal changes such as are associated with puberty, childbirth and the menopause. Using street drugs especially cannabis probably does increase your chances of suffering an episode of schizophrenia. About 25% of people who suffer an episode of schizophrenia will go on to recover completely without any further problems in the future. Modern medication is very effective and reduces the incidence of relapse to about 10%. There is no evidence that psychotherapy alone can treat schizophrenia effectively however it can be very useful in conjunction with medication. About 25% of people with schizophrenia exhibit physical changes in their brains that can be seen on CT scans. There are links between schizophrenia and certain physical illnesses. For instance coeliac disease and schizophrenia are often found in the same family and people with schizophrenia are less vulnerable to certain physical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The economic cost of schizophrenia is very great. The cost of treating a patient with schizophrenia through their life is about six times the cost of treating a patient with heart disease.

[@jacksongrant15]

+xneverwalkalonex Most people are afraid of going crazy or feeling irreversibly miserable, and I'd guess the people who tell others to shake it off are not currently in a place where they can even face those fears. The fact that it was beyond someone else's control(knowledge, capacity, misfortune) to prevent their mental illness, is frightening. I am currently not experiencing any psychosis, but I have some unpleasant episodes. I believe for my own sake, in the power life circumstances and wisdom. Placebo, all kinds of things, I take whatever thoughts I can get when desperate to help me, and refine when better. I can only imagine what challenges a person with greater difficulty would have to surmount.

[@phildobson8705]

Paul S That's true Paul & they are both right. But that is an aspect of Political Correctness - Political Correctness is Cultural Marxism & is deadly. Marx was a German, both Right (Hitler) & Left (Stalin) imposed their "you mustn't say" correctness with lethal force. Today, thanks to Tony Blair we have Cultural Marxism in the UK classroom - children are denied individual desks , ganged together around pushed together tables, sly bullying when teachers back is turned, disruption, & As With Stalin & Hitler every complaint the bully makes against those who retaliate is followed up - Kids crack up, bullies take control of the Student union, above everybody with their Correctnes - Cultural Marxism - become Left & Right politicians & spout Political Correctness, at the Council Comities, on the BBC - Cultural Marxism is at home when large numbers have cracked & cant cope

[@saraloughman7257]

First time really see you is yesterday on the news. I need to follow you 😇💓

[@stohbit967]

A little reminder to the starring character: don't point at funerals Another to the photographer: don't ever record a funeral

[@DavidJones-ti3kv]

James Longman

[@giuseppeLizzi-rj3er]

I was named after my Italian grandad giuseppe

[@mvpalapahasuk]

Best thing is you get told there's help.... 11 months later still none!

[@patrickslattery5805]

+Jake Riley help has arrived ! pay attention!

[@mollusc3125]

preach

[@cocoaorange1]

That is a tragic way his dad died,he favors him. I like his reports about the royals.

[@trocoman]

He managed to handle depression, good for him, didn´t know who this guy was, I knew It had to be entertainment related because of the way he talks and good looking guy, and yeah, hes a BBC reporter. It´s great to see how science is evolving in this matter but I wonder how many people are able to be a subject of these studies. Is Healthcare "universal" for the people in Great Britain?

[@Martial-Mat]

+trocoman Given that this was a study to find a cure, not a cure of itself, and given that the actual brain training appears to be relatively simple and something that does not require professional supervision, I'd say that the chances are quite good.

[@justmadeit2]

Nature vs nurture debate

[@helenpatterson3858]

Please stop conflating Jeans with Genes. Depression is a very real problem. This video has some valuable information about dealing with depression.

[@opnioesdeumserpensante1953]

Hmm

[@helenthomas8160]

Very interesting.

[@MajorBlip]

that's in Peaslake

[@elizabethmariadonnaspendlo8594]

Yes it is.

[@giuseppeLizzi-rj3er]

😕

[@nopretribrapture2318]

Let's all learn neuroplastics,we can all be neuroplastisions by being transformed by the renewing of our minds;training thought patterns,i do it by the bible through the HOLY SPIRIT; the bible without the HOLY SPIRIT can be dangerous and depressing.My late dad John stanbury Hutchinson was murdered in 1999 and he was a paranoid schizophrenic, trained in the RAF with also many good qualities to his character but his choices in life lead to his unfortunate demise😢

[@josephthapa377]

Anything Gene Therapy can help today?

[@robin2012ism]

so, is it in our jeans? erhm...genes.

[@selmazihni9287]

robin2012ism I was thinking it could be the actual birth of the child and what went on to the actual birth and I mean the length of time ur child is left in you if the birth is not quick and normal !

[@14thegr8]

Who farted at 4:31?

[@monica0999]

ATJ she did 🤣

[@nopretribrapture2318]

@@monica0999 no one,there was no fkg sound of a bastared fart

[@chado3000]

insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids.

[@cassiesadz352]

Chado not the moment for jokes. Its real for some of us!

[@ANGRYmuffin9000]

Wow these thights-jeans trend have to stop

[@ANGRYmuffin9000]

+ScootBunny interesting but those pants seem odd when dealing with such a serious issue. It's like a dude dressed like a chicken while talking about euthanasia.

[@blinkx1070]

Who cares if people wear tight jeans as long as they wear them at the proper fucking height. I'm tired of seeing people with their ass hanging out of their pants

[@Honking_Goose]

LEL OMG SO FUNNAH XDDD xddd

[@jacobc1900]

I care. Like the most interesting man in the world said, "Fellas. Leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pocket, you better use 'em to call a tailor." Male gentiles are not meant to be shoved into lady pants, my opinion.

[@jacobc1900]

I think the majority of women would prefer a man to act like a man. Thats just my thoughts

[@pegasus6724]

Mental health issues can only be gained by God and the angels will Our while beings are controlled from heaven by god and the angels including our mental well being . We are here to learn from darkness and hardships including me talking health issues . However what we do suffer is only temporary whilst on earth all sickness will be taken away when we pass from this world and return to heaven. Sickness is bad karma but karma is temporary

[@hazard1024]

these guys are wearing tighter jeans than the woman

[@user-eh8yz6ko3t]

I think when you are as good looking like JL you become narcissistic and if you’re narcissistic and you don’t get the adulation you then crave you become depressed

[@cocoaorange1]

LOL, we don't know him. He seems like a nice guy.

[@ysakosec]

Please read "Dianetics, the modern science of mental health" by L. Ron Hubbard. You will find the answer there. All the best.

[@ANGRYmuffin9000]

Dude, he needs help, not a good recomendation for sci fi

[@ysakosec]

I figured, dude. Have you read Dianetics? I am asking, because I assume asking you to look up "sci-fi" in a dictionary would be too much - I trust you know the definition of it. So if you haven't read it, we have to assume you believe somebody else's opinion, right? As I wrote to him, I'd like to encourage you too, to have your own unbiased opinion.

[@ANGRYmuffin9000]

+Sasha Kosec yup, you shouldn't take mental health advise from a pulp / sci fi writer, just saying.