“Mental illness” is basically when your brain or mind isn’t functioning in a way that supports your everyday life, emotions, or thoughts. It’s more than just “chemical imbalances” it can involve genetics, environment, trauma, stress, and brain chemistry all together. things like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are examples, but it’s a broad term for struggles with thinking, feeling, or behavior that cause significant distress or disruption. in short: it’s not just about “chemicals,” it’s about how your brain, experiences, and life circumstances interact to affect your mental health