Adults with Mental Illness

Mental Illnesses are brain disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and major depression. These illnesses can affect a person's thinking, moods, and relationships with other people, as well as their ability to cope with the demands of life. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness or poor upbringing. They are physical illnesses just like any other physical illness. Mental illnesses can affect people of any age and are treatable.

"Serious Mental Illness" according to the Michigan Mental Health Code is defined as: a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder affecting an adult that exists or has existed within the past year for a period of time sufficient to meet diagnostic criteria specified in the most recent diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association and approved by the department and that has resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Serious mental illness includes dementia with delusions, dementia with depressed mood, and dementia with behavioral disturbance but does not include any other dementia unless the dementia occurs in conjunction with another diagnosable serious mental illness.

The following disorders also are included only if the occur in conjunction with another diagnosable serious mental illness:
(a) A substance use disorder.
(b) A developmental disorder.
(c) A "V" code in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.

Examples of diagnoses that may qualify as Serious Mental Illness include: Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Anxiety Disorders.