It’s not always clear what causes a mental health problem. It could be a mix of biological and environmental factors. But mental illness does sometimes run in the family. Scientists know that genetics do often play a part in the development of a mental health problem. So if your parents, siblings or grandparents had poor mental health, it might make you more likely to experience a problem like depression or anxiety. But in many cases, there is no clear link between poor mental health and family history. Mental health problems can happen to anyone.