FIGURE 1. Prevalence of current depression among adults aged ≥18 years, by state quartile — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2006 |
Here is the link to the Centers for Disease Control website so you can see the statistics for yourself: http://www.cdc.gov/ - type mental illness in the search box.
Here is the Bing dictionary definition:
mental illness
1.
psychiatric
disorder: any psychiatric disorder that causes
untypical behavior
I also looked to the SAMHSA website http://www.samhsa.gov/healthreform/ for information. There were several articles devoted to the Affordable Care Act (known commonly as "Obamacare.) The main topic appears to be rehabilitation for addiction. Of course, someone who suffers from addiction is certainly encouraged to seek treatment and hopefully become a fully functioning citizen.
So, are all addicts considered mentally ill? Obviously it is a very different type of mental illness than that in which someone hallucinates, or becomes unreasonably violent, or seeks attention in inappropriate ways. What if they appear to be totally "normal" but they don't want to wear shoes? Does that mean they are mentally ill? Here is a link to an insurance question about the Affordable Care Act and mental illness: http://www.askforinsurance.com/health-insurance/obama-health-care-reform-and-mental-health-services.html
I took many classes in college that it seems should answer my questions about what, exactly, does "mentally ill" mean? Psychology, Sociology, Anatomy & Physiology, etc...the only conclusion I can come to is that people are expected to behave within certain parameters of society and that there is a fringe element that either chooses to not behave that way or cannot behave that way. They are you and me. They live and work and walk among us. How are we to distinguish who is suffering from depression due to a job loss versus who is going to back to that old job with the intent to cause bodily harm?
I am asking you, my readers, to please help me understand. Post your thoughts and comments.