Glycogen synthase kinase 3 ( GSK-3) is a constitutive serine/threonine kinase, which plays a important role in many essential physiological activities, and regulates cellular processes including metabolism, development and apoptosis through a number of signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin. Numbers of studies claimed that abnormal regulation of GSK-3 may activate several differential cells, pathways and loops, and bring out the mental disorder, including bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and so on. Inhibiting GSK-3 plays an important role in therapy for mental diseases. This review summed up the mechanism of how GSK-3 does work in mental diseases at home and abroad recent years, and hoping to provide basis for clinical treatment.