Nearly half of adults experience a mental illness at least once in their lifetime. Research and practical experience tell us that mental illness can cause a person to have decreased quality of life, decreased productivity and employment, and even impaired physical health.
A mental illness—including post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and alcoholism—can also affect a person’s relationships. There may be no relationship more affected by mental illness than the intimate relationship between partners.