### Question
Can you define what mental illness means?


### Answer
**Mental illness** is defined as the following in *42 U.S.C. § 3796ii*:

> a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder—


(A) of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria within the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 3796ii*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 46-JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT > SUBCHAPTER XII&ndash;J-MENTAL HEALTH COURTS**

