New findings are now surfacing that points changes in diet are one of the main culprit that results in the rise of mental illness today. In UK, Mental Health Foundation's published report linked illnesses like attention deficit disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia to junk food and the absence of essential fats, vitamins, and minerals in industrialised diets.

Another report, "Changing Diets, Changing Minds", sustain that the NHS bill for mental illness, at almost £100 billion a year, will continue to rise unless the government focuses on diet and the brain in its food, farming, education, and environment policies.

Both reports indicated that food should not be taken for granted. A food that is delicious and tasty doesn't always mean that its healthy. "Food can have an immediate and lasting effect on mental health and behaviour because of the way it affects the structure and function of the brain. Mental health has been completely neglected by those working on food policy. If we don’t address it and change the way we farm and fish, we may lose the means to prevent much diet-related ill health," said Sustain (an organization that roots for better food) chairman Tim Lang.

There are many causes of mental illness such as the biological, psychological, and social factors, but growing scientific evidence links poor diet to problems of behaviour and mood. For example, countries with lower fish intakes have shown higher rates of depression. Fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Doctors and scientists advises everybody to cut out junk food and include foods that are rich in folic acid, omega-3 fatty acid, and vitamins in everyday diet. It is said that lack of folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and the amino acid tryptophan are play an important role in mental illnesses. Deficiencies of essential fats and antioxidant vitamins are also thought to be a contributory factor in schizophrenia.

The feeding habits of people today have definitely changed, especially in the younger generation. More choices of food, which most are not healthy, are readily available in the market. We have to be extra careful on food that we take and parents are also advised to monitor what their children eats.