XPost: alt.religion.scientology, de.soc.weltanschauung.scientology   
   From: verasix@acc-growing-deeper.de   
      
    ::: vera :::  wrote:   
   > Mental illnesses include such disorders as schizophrenia,   
   > schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder,   
   > obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety   
   > disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention   
   > deficit/hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, and   
   > other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.   
   > These disorders can profoundly disrupt a person's thinking, feeling,   
   > moods, ability to relate to others and capacity for coping with the   
   > demands of life.   
   >   
   > Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or   
   > income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack   
   > of character, or poor upbringing.   
   >   
   > Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people with serious mental   
   > illness need medication to help control symptoms, but also rely on   
   > supportive counseling, self-help groups, assistance with housing,   
   > vocational rehabilitation, income assistance and other community   
   > services in order to achieve their highest level of recovery.   
   >   
   > Here are some important facts about mental illness and recovery:   
   >   
   >  a.. Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders.  They   
   > cannot be overcome through "will power" and are not related to a   
   > person's "character" or intelligence.   
   >  b.. Mental disorders fall along a continuum of severity. The most   
   > serious and disabling conditions affect five to ten million adults   
   > (2.6 - 5.4%) and three to five million children ages five to seventeen   
   > (5 - 9%) in the United States.   
   >  c.. Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability (lost years   
   > of productive life) in the North America, Europe and, increasingly, in   
   > the world. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause   
   > of disability in the world for women and children.   
   >  d.. Mental illnesses strike individuals in the prime of their lives,   
   > often during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are   
   > susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable.   
   >  e.. Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the   
   > individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability,   
   > unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate   
   > incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of   
   > untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year   
   > in the United States.   
   >  f.. The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly   
   > effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant   
   > reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination   
   > of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports;   
   >  g.. Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By   
   > getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated   
   > and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of   
   > illness.   
   >  h.. Stigma erodes confidence that mental disorders are real,   
   > treatable health conditions. We have allowed stigma and a now   
   > unwarranted sense of hopelessness to erect attitudinal, structural   
   > and financial barriers to effective treatment and recovery. It is   
   > time to take these barriers down.   
      
   Sorry, I forgot the source:   
      
   http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About   
   Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm   
      
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