The rate of mental illness in this country is staggering. One study reported that approximately 21 million adults have some form of mental illness. Conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and other disorders often wreak havoc on the individual as well as his or her family and friends. In some respects, the fact that there are no visible signs of a disability makes it even more difficult for many people to understand the magnitude of psychological pain that a person may be experiencing within his or her own mind, which often results in friends and family members removing the person from their social network so they don't have to deal with the high and low cycles associated with mental illness.

To read the entire column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/654/2633/Director~s~Column~~June~2009~~~Obesity~and~
Mental~Illness.