how can spirituality starting at a younger age (because of parents being church goers/enforcers) have an effect on mental illness as you get older

Spirituality can be very helpful in maintaining mental health and help avoid mental illness.  Even though this is true, spirituality is directly important in the diagnosis, symptomatology, treatment and prognosis of psychiatric disturbances. Losing an interest in spirituality can create a disturbance in interpersonal relationships. for example, a lose in interest of spirituality or religious activities can lead to common characteristics of depression. mental illness can be effected from to much or an overwhelmed attention to religion or spirituality.  Another example of spirituality having an effect on your mental health is Too much and distorted religious practices are common in schizophrenia patients.  


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755140/