Glen Said:

What makes something a mental health issue as opposed to a regular health issue that involves the brain?

We Answered:

Most mental illnesses are considered 'brain' issues as they involve irregularities in the functioning of the brain. Hence, the medications and treatments. It has also been recognized that all these conditions also have accompanying behavioral and emotional components hence they are also mental health issues.
Epilepsy is not considered by itself a mental illness because it involves misfiring in the brain but by itself does not have a direct emotional or social behavioral effect. Having said that dealing with epilepsy can be stressful and cause damage to the brain and psyche some of which are manifest as mental illness. Many persons live successfully as epileptics w/o dealing with mental illness.

Bob Said:

How can doctors treat a person with mental health medication if they can not prove the person has a mental ill?

We Answered:

1. There aren't any blood tests for mental illness. The doctor diagnoses based on the description of the symptoms of the patient. Sometimes the first drug works, other times medication will be switched and tested until one is found that works.

2. They know that the dosage works when the patient tells them so. The patient will begin to feel better and happier, and will say so when they are asked. Dose will be increased as the patient requests.

3. Anyone with any disease or condition can still have any mental illness. Having one illness does not mean you can't get another. Diabetics often suffer from depression due to the situation they are living in, taking medication and testing blood, and physical problems from the disease.

Juanita Said:

What prison in the United States provides the best mental health services to prisoners?

We Answered:

Not so much an answer but an observation, my dear pal was on death row in San Quentin and he often wrote about how so many guys became so mentally ill that they were no longer fit for execution. Sadly this proved to be true when he took his own life in June this year, says it all for me. Peace

Shirley Said:

What guidelines exist for mental health therapy and treatment?

We Answered:

Actually it is highly regulated among licensed professionals. The problem is that anyone can call themselves a "therapist" without education or licensure. Just like anyone can call themselves a "life coach, job coach," etc.

LMFT's (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists) and LP's (Licensed Psychologists) have ethical guidelines they must follow or risk losing their license. I don't know where the LMFT's get theres, but you can go to APA.org to see the code of ethics for psychologists.

Sean Said:

What mental health services could you benefit from?

We Answered:

I am already on medication for both BiPolar and anxiety, so I suppose that talk therapy about the causes of my episodes would be helpful, too.