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Important Facts Regarding Psychiatry and Mental Illness

There are many different mental illnesses. These illnesses are all biologically based brain disorders. The diagnosing, preventing and treatment of these diseases are addressed by those medical doctors who have studied and been licensed to practice in the field of psychiatry, they are called psychiatrists.

Having the will to do so cannot heal mental illnesses alone, they cannot be healed by "correcting a person's character". Mental illnesses have a range of severity and individuals who suffer from them have a different levels or abilities to function at work, school or in their home life. About 1 in every 17 Americans suffer from a serious mental illness. Approximately 1 in every 5 families has a member suffering from a mental illness.

Mental illnesses typically strike when an individual is in the prime of their life - their teens or in their young adulthood. However, all ages are susceptible of having the onset of mental illness, with the young and the elderly being the most vulnerable to mental illness.

The goal of psychiatry is to improve the mental functioning of the individual and to allow them to have an improved sense of well-being. If an individual suffering from a mental illness does not receive treatment the results can be devastating to the individual, the family and society. Mental illness has a detrimental affect upon the person's employment, can lead to homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration, suicide and unproductive lives. Untreated mental illness has an economic waste of more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States alone.

Treatments for mental illness can be highly effective with between 70 and 90% of those receiving treatment experiencing significant reduction in their symptoms and having an improved quality of life. Treatment includes pharmacological, psychosocial and miscellaneous support. Treatment allows individuals with mental illnesses to achieve a satisfying level of achievement and independence that they would not otherwise be able to achieve. A key component to success is learning how to manage their illness and to receive early detection, identification of the illness and to receive immediate treatment.

The occurrence of the negative stigma associated with individuals who suffer from mental illness and the notion that there is hopelessness in any positive outcome can be detrimental to the progress that is possible for those who suffer. It is important to educate the public regarding the management and ability to successfully treat those who are inflicted with mental illnesses. Financial barriers need to be eradicated so that all individuals can afford to undergo treatment regardless of their economic status.

Individuals suffering from any mental illness require the resources of a community that supports recovery, the services of a qualified psychiatrist, therapy, possible medications, support from family, friends and coworkers and the time to heal. It is important that the individual who has the mental illness, not only recognize and accept the diagnosis but that there is a willingness to manage the disease. Positive support from all concerned is of utmost importance for the well-being of the individual who suffers from any form of mental illness.