Genuine question re what qualifies as "mental illness"

[anonymousbird]

Absolutely no offence, or trivialising of the seriousness of mental illness, intended.

If I went for therapy in my 20's - to deal with various issues that were troubling me, my mother, my ex, a friend dying that I was struggling with etc, and I was referred to a therapist through a consultation with a psychiatrist as this was all being claimed privately under insurance, so I needed the correct referral. I went for therapy weekly for several months, and had a successful outcome.

Does this count as "mental illness which required treatment by a psychiatrist...." which is the question I have to answer on a life insurance application form? I do not believe that it does, but am seeking any views as clearly, I need to be "whiter than white" when answering these questions.

I was not "mentally ill", as I understand it, I was a bit down and struggling with things a bit and needed some guidance. I was never in any danger of harming myself or others. I was briefly put onto Prozac at this period in time, but it made no difference so was taken off it.

Any help is gratefully received.

TIA.

[madmouse]

The brief technical answer is that a mental illness is an illness defined in the DSM -IV manual - the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (The IV means it is in its 4th incarnation)

You can google it - the information is quite easy to find.