The divorce of Robbie Hawkins' parents factored heavily in the preschooler's self-destructive tailspin that landed him in a mental hospital.

 

People with most major mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, have a genetic imbalance that causes instability. In those cases, divorce can be one of several triggers for the illness to emerge.

Another major mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, is triggered by a severe stressor in a person's life - usually a highly traumatic event or set of events.

When Robbie was 4, doctors diagnosed him with this disorder, among other behavioral and anxiety disorders. Doctors also suspected that Robbie had suffered severe physical or sexual abuse.