My mother was 36 years old before she was finally diagnosed as Manic Depressant/Bipolar/Schizophrenic. So for 36 years, she self medicated with alcohol & drugs. She was shunned by family as being the 'black sheep' her parents were absolutely incoherent that anything could be wrong with her besides 'bad choices'. They were confused and angry with her behavior and dealt with it completely wrong, which only added to her problems. I was fortunate that they loved me and took good care of me, but they did use me as a pawn against her, to hurt her and to punish her for her behavior. by the time she was officially diagnosed, the damage she had done to her mind and body with the drugs and alcohol was irreversible. And even then, no one in the family had any coping skills. So they all retreated into their own little worlds of denial, and she never did receive the love or support that she had wanted or needed her entire life. I tried. But even I did not have the ability to 'make things right'. Then when she was 54yrs old she committed Suicide. Her manner of exit, summed up the chaos and bitter pain that she had lived through, and left the echo's of the tortured life that she lead. In the 1960's, when her symptoms really started to surface, there was very little education available and even less Medical help and support. I do not think that Mental Illness is on the rise, no I think that we are much more aware and much more empathetic to our fellow humans. I really wish though, that someone could have been there for my mother when she needed them. My life would have been so much different, as would have been my siblings and my childs.