Ok and how would that imply the majority of people are suffering from severe mental illness? From what I understand you can be mildly depressed and still get anti-depressants if the doctor thinks they will help any.......I also think sometimes they over-prescribe.

Either way I cannot say what your friends suffer with or not or to what extent, but half of your female friends being on psych meds is not really an indication most people are suffering from serious mental illness to the point they've had to be hospitalized for it, have attempted suicide and cannot even hold a job due to it or have significant troubles holding a job over it.

Something tells me if they are successful capable people, they have either found a treatment regimen that alleviates their severe symptoms enough for them to accomplish that........or maybe they had more mild cases of mental illness to begin with, and are just having it treated before it gets out of hand, maybe they don't need the anti-depressants I couldn't say.

Either way based on looking at studies, statistics and taking some psychology classes I am quite certain most people are not suffering from diagnose mental illness, let alone severe mental illness/disorders.