Mental Illness

Mental illness is a source of "serious social problems" not just because of the number of people affected by it but also due to the "extent to which social institutions are strained by efforts to care for them" (Kornblum and Julian et al. 2004, 68). Of the estimated 3.5 million Americans suffering from severe mental illnesses, at least 40 percent do not receive treatment (Kornblum et al. 2004). This is a major problem for society for many reasons. For the untreated sufferer of mental illness, there are a variety of challenges due to being afflicted, from hallucinations to debilitating depression and extreme mood swings. However, society as a whole also faces enormous challenges from mental illness, including stress in family life, heavy demands on social services, and the cost of treatment to taxpayers.

A high number of alcoholics and mentally ill chemical abusers (MICA) contribute to the challenges faced by society from mental illness. One of the most dangerous and painful aspects of mental illness for society is the concept of deinstitutionaliz

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Category: Psychology - M