How are they treated?

The National Council for State Legislators reports that of the 12-13 million adults with a serious mental illness in the U.S., 5.9 million—45.3 percent—received treatment in 2005, according to research from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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• 39 percent obtained prescription medication
• 28.5 percent received outpatient treatment
• 4.6 percent were treated as inpatients

According to a 2007 report by the National Council for State Legislators, psychosocial therapy is also common.

As for mental health providers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness lists psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric/mental health nurses and licensed professional counselors as the primary mental health professionals.

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• Psychiatrists have a medical degree and concentrate on psychotherapy and prescribe medications.
• Psychologists have a master’s or doctoral degree and concentrate on testing and psychotherapy. According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics, New Mexico and Louisiana allow psychologists limited ability to prescribe medications.
• Social Workers have a bachelor’s, a master’s or a doctoral degree and concentrate on case management, psychotherapy and assessment.
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurses have certifications ranging from an associate’s to a doctoral degree and concentrate on medical services including case management and psychotherapy. In some states, they can prescribe medications.
• Licensed Counselors have a master’s degree and typically some post-graduate experience and concentrate on counseling services such as family therapy.

Mental illnesses cannot be cured. However, between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psycho social treatments and supports, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.