What can ignoring mental health lead to?

Asked by: Carlo Feil IV  |  Last update: February 14, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (26 votes)

Ignoring mental health leads to worsening conditions, severe life impacts like job loss, homelessness, and substance abuse, strained relationships, and significant physical health problems, including chronic diseases, due to the mind-body connection, with the most severe consequence being increased risk of suicide. It disrupts daily functioning, causing low motivation, poor concentration, and emotional dysregulation, and makes conditions harder to treat later.

What are the consequences of neglected mental health?

Unaddressed mental health problems can have a negative influence on homelessness, poverty, employment, safety, and the local economy. They may impact the productivity of local businesses and health care costs, impede the ability of children and youth to succeed in school, and lead to family and community disruption.

What are the consequences of not maintaining mental health?

Impaired self-esteem. Impaired relationships. Increased risk of mental illness. Increased risk of physical illness.

What happens when mental health goes untreated?

Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and physical health problems. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include: Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life. Family conflicts.

What are the psychological effects of being ignored?

When someone ignores us, it can trigger a range of negative emotions. We may feel rejected, isolated, and unimportant. This can have a significant impact on our self-esteem and self-worth, leading to feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness.

10 Mental Illness Signs You Should Not Ignore

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What happens to the brain when you are ignored?

Social exclusion activates the same regions as physical pain

Those hurt feelings when you're the last one picked for a team may register in the brain just like a scraped knee or a kicked shin, according to new research that finds that the brain responds to social rejection in the same way it responds to physical pain.

What are the dangers of ignoring mental health?

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), “Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide, and poor quality of life.” It can also lead to issues with sleep, cognitive function, energy and ...

What are the 7 stages of mental health?

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to emotional healing, just like there is no “right” way to grieve after loss. But in my experience, emotional healing happens in seven stages: awareness, acceptance, processing, release, growth, integration, and transformation.

What are 7 symptoms of long-term stress?

What are the symptoms of chronic stress?

  • Aches and pains.
  • Insomnia or sleepiness.
  • A change in social behavior, such as staying in often.
  • Low energy.
  • Unfocused or cloudy thinking.
  • Change in appetite.
  • Increased alcohol or drug use.
  • Change in emotional responses to others.

What does poor mental health do to your body?

Poor mental health can lead to behaviors — smoking, overeating, inactivity, and substance use, for example — that can negatively impact your physical health. These behaviors can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic pain.

What is bed rotting depression?

At its core, bed rotting involves staying in bed on purpose, where individuals lay around engaging in passive activities like watching TV, phone scrolling, or napping. Fans claim it lets them “reset their brain” after burnout. Critics argue it's glorified avoidance that can breed more depression and lethargy.

What can happen if you ignore stress?

Stress that's not dealt with can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes.

How to tell if you were emotionally neglected?

Symptoms of Emotional Neglect

Feeling like there's something missing, but not being sure what it is. Feeling hollow inside. Being easily overwhelmed or discouraged. Low self-esteem.

What are the 5 C's of mental health?

The 5 C's of Mental Health refer to key pillars for well-being, though different frameworks use slightly varied terms, common ones include Connection, Coping, Compassion, Care, and Community (or Calmness/Control), focusing on relationships, healthy stress management, self-kindness, proactive self-support, and belonging; another set (often for youth development) is Competence, Confidence, Character, Connection, and Caring, emphasizing capability, self-belief, ethics, belonging, and empathy. Both sets aim to build resilience and a positive mindset by addressing emotional needs and fostering personal growth.
 

What are the potential consequences of neglecting?

Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are therefore at increased risk for a number of problematic developmental, health, and mental health outcomes, including learning problems (e.g., problems with inattention and deficits in executive functions), problems relating to peers (e.g., peer rejection), ...

What is the top 10 worst mental illness?

What is the Hardest Mental Illness to Live With?

  • Depression.
  • Anxiety Disorder.
  • Bipolar Disorder.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder.
  • Schizophrenia.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

What are the five golden rules of mental health?

Following these five golden rules—self-care, connection, stress management, positivity, and seeking help—can significantly enhance your mental health. Just like physical health, mental well-being requires consistent attention and care.

What are the signs of a trauma bond?

Trauma bond symptoms involve a powerful, confusing attachment to an abuser, characterized by emotional volatility, making excuses for their abuse, defending them, feeling unable to leave despite harm, and isolating from support systems. Key signs include walking on eggshells, intense gratitude for small kindnesses, low self-esteem, guilt, depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms like sleep/appetite changes during withdrawal from the bond. 

What can untreated mental health lead to?

People with untreated mental health issues are at a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

What did Jesus say about mental health?

While Jesus didn't use the modern term "mental health," His teachings and actions address deep sorrow, anxiety, and distress, offering hope, peace, and healing through faith, prayer, and seeking comfort in Him, showing that spiritual well-being involves caring for the heart, mind, and soul, even amidst suffering. He encouraged trusting God, casting worries onto Him (1 Peter 5:7), finding rest (Matthew 11:28), and promised His enduring peace (John 14:27), while also showing compassion for the hurting, validating deep emotional struggles (like His own in Gethsemane) as part of the human experience, not necessarily a sign of weak faith. 

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

There isn't one single "#1 worst" habit, but procrastination/avoidance, lack of sleep, negative self-talk, and excessive caffeine/poor diet are consistently cited as major drivers that intensify anxiety by creating a cycle of stress, worry, and poor coping. These habits often feed into each other, making it harder to manage anxious feelings, with procrastination often stemming from anxiety and then worsening it further.
 

What drink calms anxiety?

For calming drinks, focus on herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, and peppermint (often containing apigenin or L-theanine for relaxation), green tea for L-theanine's calm alertness, and warm milk with tryptophan; also consider water for hydration and nutrient-rich smoothies with ingredients like turmeric or ginger. These beverages, especially those with antioxidants and amino acids, support mood regulation and stress reduction, but shouldn't replace professional anxiety treatment.
 

What is level 3 mental illness?

At Stage 3, symptoms have continued to increase in severity, and many symptoms are often taking place at the same time. A person may feel as though they are losing control of their life and the ability to fill their roles at home, work or school.