What is Mental Illness
Mental Illnesses are physical brain disorders that profoundly disrupt
a person's ability to think, feel, and relate to others and their
environment. Mental illnesses are also biologically based brain
disorders. They cannot be overcome through "will power"
and are not related to a person's "character" or intelligence.
Mental illnesses include such disorders as schizophrenia, schizoaffective
disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive
developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder,
borderline personality disorder, and other severe and persistent
mental illnesses that affect the brain.
These disorders can profoundly disrupt a person's thinking, feeling,
moods, ability to relate to others and capacity for coping with
the demands of life.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion,
or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness,
lack of character, or poor upbringing.
Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people with serious mental
illness need medication to help control symptoms, but also rely
on supportive counseling, self-help groups, assistance with housing,
vocational rehabilitation, income assistance and other community
services in order to achieve their highest level of recovery.
