I know of a few people who say they've been "cured" of their bipolar disorder through nutritional supplements, religious faith, meditation and other methods, but I don't believe they are actually cured. Manic depression, as it used to be called, has physical roots in the brain.

There are still many places in the world where it's believed "mental" illnesses are caused by demons, lack of faith in a deity, etc. I hear every week from people living in the US who have been told the reason for...