mental illness

American  

noun

1. any of the various forms of psychosis or severe neurosis.

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mental illness British  

noun

1. any of various disorders in which a person's thoughts, emotions, or behaviour are so abnormal as to cause suffering to himself, herself, or other people

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mental illness Scientific  

/ mĕn′tl /

1. Any of various psychiatric disorders or diseases, usually characterized by impairment of thought, mood, or behavior.

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Etymology

Origin of mental illness

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

“Mom says he has a mental illness,” Mari said.

From Literature

Haidt argued in his bestselling 2024 book "The Anxious Generation" that too much time looking at screens -- particularly social media -- was rewiring children's brains and "causing an epidemic of mental illness".

From Barron's

Officers later informed a supervisor that they found “no indication of mental illness,” according to department records.

From Los Angeles Times

“And if we conclude that these technologies are creating more isolation, more loneliness, more mental illness, you know what? We have got to figure out a way to stop it,” he said.

From Barron's

One individual with severe mental illness who was receiving services, according to state records, had been found dead in his apartment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insanity
• mental disorder