Introduction

Mental illness is not an easy term to define. It refers to significant clinical patterns of behavior or emotions that are associated with some level of distress, suffering, or impairment. These patterns can affect a person's ability to function at school or work, and to interact with colleagues, friends, and family. At the root of mental illness is behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction, or a combination thereof.

Being mentally ill doesn't necessarily make a person dangerous. It shouldn't make them and their families outcasts. But the stigma of mental illness can be very strong.

Many people suffer in silence, masking their emotions and pain because of society's misperceptions of mental illness. They refuse to seek treatment, even though a combination of psychotherapy and medicaion can help many people recover to lead active, healthy lives.

Anxiety, Compulsive Disorders, Eating Disorders, Depression, bipolar / manic depression, Personality Disorders like Borderline and MPD / DID, and Schizophrenia are all forms of mental illness that can be treated successfully.

Mental health problems are the same as medical problems and they can be treated successfully. There is more than just hope for success, there is abundant evidence of it. Lives can be reclamed. Help is within reach.