Information on Mental Illness

Mental illnesses, once thought to be caused by demons or moral failure, are now understood as involving changes in the brain. Serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression are treatable with combinations of medication, social support, psychosocial rehabilitation and psychotherapy. Mental disorders are common; one family in five can expect to be affected by a major mental illness. The economic impact of these disorders is significant, on the order of $80 billion annually due to hospitalizaton, treatment costs, lost wages, family cargiving, etc.

See the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's "About Mental Illness" as well as the American Psychiatric Association's " What is Mental Illness " page for addional information.

www.richmondstatehospital.org/mentalillness.htm

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