Mental illness is a serious condition that affects millions of people. In fact, it’s much more common than people realize. It’s estimated that roughly 18.5 percent of American adults experience mental illness within a given year and around 4.2 percent of American adults suffer from a serious mental illness that has a drastic impact on one or more of their major life activities. Unfortunately, less than half receive treatment. Mental illness is often misunderstood and can have dire effects if not properly treated. And it’s not just those that are suffering from mental illness that have to live with the struggle—their loved ones do too. Just take for example Amanda Lipp.

Back in 2010, Amanda’s parents Pam and Doug were informed that their daughter was being held at a psychiatric crisis center. Amanda had attempted to throw herself in front of a moving car while attending college. Her parents were told that she had fallen into a state of psychosis—she was selling off her belongings and falling under the belief that she was being followed by cameras. It wasn’t until then that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Amanda exhibited signs of her mental illness as far back as middle school. She would experience extreme mood swings and would often get into huge arguments with her parents. Pam realized her daughter needed help and went to their family doctor. Their doctor provided a list of nearby therapists. Unfortunately, the list was not only out of date, but therapy was extremely expensive. They couldn’t afford the number of sessions she needed, even though she was diagnosed with depression.

After being held in the psychiatric crisis center, Amanda was moved to a hospital, which focused on treating her medically. The family were worried about expenses. Fortunately, a federal law was passed in 2008 that required mental illness to be covered without limitations.

Mental illness affects millions of people, and it’s important that a correct diagnosis is given in order to get proper treatment. For legal advice and protection in regards to receiving such treatments, consider the LegalShield plan at the Benefits Store.