What is mental illness?

The term "mental illness" refers to many psychiatric disorders that affect or originate in the brain. A mental illness can impact the way people think, feel, behave and interact with others.

What are the more common psychiatric disorders?

	Depression		Panic Disorder
	Substance Abuse		Attention-Deficit Disorder
	Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)		Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
	Schizophrenia		Learning Disorders
	Anxiety Disorders		Eating Disorders
	Delirium		Sexual Disorders
	Specific and Social Phobias		Sleep Disorders
	Dementia		Dissociative and Personality Disorder

What are the warning signs of depression?

The signs of depression can include frequent:
	feelings of isolation		sleep disturbances
	thoughts of suicide		withdrawal from family and friends
	sudden loss or gain of weight		feeling sad or "down"
	chronic pain		loss of energy for daily activities

Can a mental illness be treated?

Yes. Mental illnesses are definable, diagnosable and treatable. In fact, psychiatry has a higher success rate than many other branches of medicine. For example, the treatment success rate is 85% for major depression; 80% for panic disorder and bipolar (manic depressive) illness; and 60% for schizophrenia. By contrast, success rates for common heart treatments, such as angioplasty and atherectomy, are only 41% and 52%.

What is main the difference between psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Psychiatrists undergo extensive training and education requiring four years of college; four years of medical school; four years of residency; and additional training for specialization in areas such as adolescent psychiatry or forensic psychiatry. ONLY psychiatrists are medical doctors who can order medical tests and prescribe medication for the treatment of mental illness. Psychiatrists are best prepared to differentiate between the physical and psychological causes of both mental and physical illness.

How can I help a loved one who may be suffering from a mental illness?

Discuss the issue with your primary care physician, or in the case of a child, your family pediatrician. Your physician may perform a physical evaluation to determine whether any physical problems may be the cause or contributor to the mental or emotional problem. The physician can be helpful by providing the names of psychiatrists appropriate to consult. Also, a referral service is available through the IPS by contacting (312) 263-7391.

Will my insurance cover the cost of treatment for mental illness?

Insurance coverage varies from carrier to carrier. Unfortunately, Illinois currently does not require uniform regulations governing insurance parity for mental health treatment. Most existing coverage for mental illness is discriminatory. Bureau of Labor survey statistics show that:
	95% of the health insurance plans surveyed limits their outpatient coverage.
	79% of employees in large and medium-size firms are offered mental health benefits that are more restrictive on hospital coverage for mental illness than for other illnesses.
	66% impose special maximum dollar limits on outpatient visits.
	50% of employees have hospitalizations limited to 30-60 days per year for mental disorders, compared with 120 to unlimited days for physical disorders.
	38% belong to plans that put a separate, or lower maximum on annual or lifetime expenses.
	34% allow fewer outpatient visits per year for mental disorders.
You can help rectify this discriminatory coverage of mental illness by contacting your state legislator and demanding that the comprehensive mental health parity legislation be passed in Illinois!

*For more information click on the links below:

A Basic Guide to Bipolar
A Basic Guide to Depression
A Basic Guide to Eating Disorder
A Basic Guide to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
A Basic Guide to Panic Disorder
A Basic Guide to Schizophrenia

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