Some would argue learned helplessness is part of mental illness, or can be a factor in it. Especially in the case of depression, one could even say some people are more genitically prone to learned helplessness than others...maybe its not nessisarily a part of mental illness but it certainly can cause a lot of problems in ones life. I have first hand experiance with that and I still have to put a lot of effort into trying to stand up for myself and such...its not a mental illness in itself but it certainly adds to the depression.