Glossary of Terms: M

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  • Mental Illness

    A serious and persistent mental or emotional impairment that significantly limits a person’s ability to live independently.

  • Multiply Diagnosed

    This generally refers to people who have chronic alcohol and/or other drug use problems and/or a serious mental illness and/or are HIV-positive. The terms “dually diagnosed” and “triply diagnosed” are also used.

  • Medicare

    A health insurance program administered by the United States government, covering people who are either age 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria, such as a disabling illness (i.e. severe mental illness). It was originally signed into law on July 30, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation.