I agree with Perna re a person's responsibility to the society at large. And I think it is also important to think beyond those extreme examples to the less tangible but more numerous examples which are no less real and no less damaging to everyone involved.

When we are "ill" the focus tends to be on ourself and depending on the severity of the "illness" a certain amount of tunnel vision results. So much so that, for instance, we may be incapable of perceiving clearly the effects of our actions upon others; our illness blinds us in many situations. I'm speaking of fairly mundane details such as not returning or answering a phone call because one is depressed. If we pause to think for a moment about the person on the other end of the line who A) is familiar with your issues and B) knows fully well that when you don't feel well, you don't talk and C) worries about you when this is the case, then it's clear that any person in their "right" mind would try and remedy the situation. Do those of us who suffer from some mental issue think about this, attempt to do anything about this? If we don't or won't, then it is probably difficult to imagine then the cumulative effect of your actions on the other people, your loved ones. Over time, I would wager that the stress and worry caused by you would make their lives somehow less productive, less pleasurable.

So this is just one more angle to contemplate, for the medicated and unmedicated alike. When we retreat into ourselves and get lost in the maze of our own making, it is reasonable to assume that we have lost some touch with reality. Meds can make a difference in this respect, as can supplements, as can cognitive work, as can diet and exercise. True, no one size fits all. But all of us, whichever camp we fall into, should remember that whatever our actions, none of them occur in a vacuum; rather, our actions continually reverberate through other peoples' lives. So, it is SELFISH to think that simply by taking some prescribed medication you have dealt with the problem. How has your behavior changed in day-to-day situations such that others are brought some measure of relief (less concern for you) by your actions? However you are tackling your illness, if it results in more awareness of ones actions (and their effects), then your efforts may be considered successful. If you are convinced that you are "fine", but without a single thought about what your loved ones are going through, then you are only halfway there with your recovery.