Comment by regularfry

> The issue with this is that this is happening with full support of government employees, and even the courts cooperate to a lesser extent.

Why is that an issue? The simplest explanation is that the underlying rate of mental illness is inconveniently high. Which would tally with, as you say:

> In fact, nothing is expected at all (other than medical evidence).

Also I would take a look at the date when the upcurve starts on that chart and ask myself: was there some sort of mass disabling event that happened about then? Might that be contributing?