Physical therapy often fills this role after physical illness. Similarly, following mental illness, social rehabilitation is often needed. The brain is part of the body. It too can become ill. Mental illness is a term used for a group of disorders causing serious disturbances in thinking, feeling, and relating, which result in a substantially diminished capacity for coping with ordinary demands of life.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of all ages and can occur in any family.
The causes are not yet fully understood, but science is making new discoveries every day. These changes are not unlike the changes that occur in diabetes or heart disease. However, the severity of the episodes can be minimized by a healthy lifestyle. Just as diabetes and heart disease can be managed by medication and treatment, an ever expanding range of psychotropic medications and treatment regimens enable persons with mental illness to manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives. Some of the Major Mental Illnesses Schizophrenia affects men and women about equally.