Do people ever recover from a mental illness?
Depending on the type and severity of the mental illness, a person can learn to cope, improve or experience a full recovery with proper care and treatment. As many as eight in ten people suffering from mental illness can effectively return to normal, productive lives. Anti-depressant medications help reverse the symptoms of depression in 80-90 percent of those who receive treatment. When psychotherapy is added to the treatment, these individuals can better cope with the social, emotional and vocational complications brought on by the illness. Many people suffering from schizophrenia can return to the community. Only 20% of those who take medications for schizophrenia will suffer relapse within two years of being discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Unfortunately, only one in five people with a diagnosable mental disorder seeks treatment.
