[MSL]

Ontological status of mental illness

  An answer of mine (from 16-12-2010) about the Ontological status of mental illness. A person asked

(Original post by niamhr)
I have to write an essay on this topic and am struggling to find a focus. I understand that it is basically whether or not mental illness exists and I have considered looking at it in regard to the triad of health (illness, sickness, disease) and also a legal issue but I'm not sure if either of these is correct.
Does anyone know of a philosophical stance/argument to take with this?
Thank you, I appreciate any help anyone can give

It was in forum of thestudentroom.co.uk.
 My answer was:

"Yes, I do. As far as I am a philosopher + my family members are 2 generations psychiatrists.
a) It is not that ontological important to look the "triad" illness, sickness, disease, because in some languages it is just one and the same.
b) Better look at the LEVELS of the mental illness:

-social level
-psychological level
-biological level
-bio-chemical level

c) Look at the history of the understanding of these illness - for example before they were thought as demons inside of the body, for example...
The history of the understanding is an important part of the ontology.

d) You can also notice the dialectical categories in the relation of these illness. For example the the unity of the opposites..."