Which of the following statements is a fact about mental illnesses?

• A. Mental illnesses are always caused by poor parenting.
• B. People with mental illnesses can never recover or lead productive lives.
• C. Mental illnesses are extremely rare and only affect a small portion of the population.
• D. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that can affect thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of a fact in the context of psychology. A fact is a statement supported by scientific evidence and research.
2. Step 2: Evaluate each statement based on current psychological research and knowledge about mental illnesses.
3. Step 3: Recognize that mental illnesses are not always caused by poor parenting; they have multiple causes including biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
4. Step 4: Understand that people with mental illnesses can recover or manage their conditions and lead productive lives, so the statement claiming they never can is false.
5. Step 5: Know that mental illnesses are common and affect a significant portion of the population, so the statement about rarity is incorrect; the factual statement is that mental illnesses are medical conditions affecting thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.