Magellan Health Services Educates Public about Warning Signs of Common Mental Illnesses; Web Guide Offers Information on Depression, Anxiety and Eating Disorders.

FARMINGTON, Conn. -- One out of every five Americans suffers from a diagnosable, treatable mental disorder. Unfortunately, more than half of these individuals never get the help they need. In support of Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 3 to 9, Magellan Health Services, the nation's leading manager of behavioral health care, has issued an informational guide to promote the early diagnosis and treatment of three classes of frequently diagnosed mental illness: depressive, anxiety and eating disorders.

"Extensive research on the nature of mental illness has shown that these conditions can frequently generate physical symptoms, disruptions in relationships and work, and problems with diet and substance abuse," said Alex Rodriguez, M.D., chief medical officer for Magellan. "In many cases, we've been able to coordinate early diagnosis and treatment, but stigma and lack of knowledge continue to prevent many people from seeking help. We hope that this guide will educate people about the warning signs and let them know that they're not alone."

Magellan has posted its informational guide, MENTAL ILLNESS: Common Warning Signs, on the Spotlight area of its Web site, www.MagellanHealth.com. The guide contains information about the prevalence of mental illness and lists the symptoms of depressive, anxiety and eating disorders, three of the most frequently diagnosed mental illnesses.

In any given year, approximately 18.8 million American adults have a depressive disorder, 19.1 million have an anxiety disorder and 11 million have a serious eating disorder. "These classifications, however, are not discrete," Rodriguez adds. "People often suffer from more than one type of mental illness. For example, many people with panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder, also develop major depression. To complicate matters even further, individuals with a specific disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, will often develop another disorder that falls under the same category, such as a phobic disorder. That's why early detection and treatment is so critical. By addressing the issue early on, we can sometimes prevent the development of more chronic conditions."

Headquartered in Farmington, Conn., Magellan Health Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:MGLN) is the country's leading managed behavioral health care organization. The company specializes in managed mental health and substance abuse services as well as employee assistance/life management programs. Its customers include health plans, corporations and government agencies.