mentaL iLLness: from eXorcisms to mentaL heaLth courts
Diversity Committee
Chairs: Timothy C. Martin – Martin Law Office & Victoria Oguntoye – Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
mental illness
is more common
than cancer,
diabetes, or
M
ental illnesses
are diseases or
conditions that
affect how one
thinks, feels, acts, or relates to
other people or surroundings.
Mental illness is more common
than cancer, diabetes, or heart
disease. 1 Major types of mental
illness include: anxiety disorders,
mood disorders, schizophrenia and
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heart disease.
psychotic disorders, dementia, and
eating disorders. 2 The National
Institute of Mental Health
estimates that more than 45 million
Americans have a mental illness in
any given year, with only about half
seeking treatment. 3
In early times, mental illness
was believed to be caused by
demonic possession or witchcraft. 4
The most common treatments were
exorcism and trephining (creating
a small hole in the person’s skull to
release spirits from the body, which
sometimes actually killed the
person). 5 During the 18th century,
people who suffered from mental
illness were placed in asylums,
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HCBA LAWYER