I think young people like to give themselves labels. It starts in school, where we split up between jocks, brainiacs, tomboys, or whatever other group we chose to join. We do this because such labels make us feel like we're part of something bigger, and it stops us from embarrassing ourselves doing something that we're not good at. "I'm a brainiac, I don't do sports!" or "I'm a boy, I don't play with dolls!" So there's some isolation there were these people (usually kids) join a label to opt out of things they aren't good at, or are too scared to try. As we get older though, we tend to drop such labels... usually. 

I think mental disorders are no different. I think people like giving their weaknesses names because it makes them feel less exclusive, and also means that there's nothing they can do about it. Someone who says "I have ADD" or any of it's variants chooses to take a pill to solve their problem instead of making an effort to pay more attention. I remember being told by a grown man "I think I have ADD, because I really don't like to listen to other people." That's a possibility, but you could also just be an ass hole. 

I'd like to stress that I do believe mental illnesses exist, I just don't think they are as wide spread as people make them out to be. For some it's just a crutch for people who don't want to overcome their problem.

I also strongly disagree with role playing being dangerous because of it being a strong form of "escapism." I do not want to trade places with most of my characters on my worst days. My job is also in retail, so I have pretty good people skills. Could it be dangerous? Possibly. Isn't everything dangerous in excess? Yes. 

I think forums themselves are a form of escapism. writing whatever you want under the veil of anonymity. I can be a cute school girl or a big beefy muscle man, and nobody can say otherwise. I think that's more dangerous than play by post roleplaying, because I'm escaping directly in front of real people.