Final answer:
Mel's symptoms, including paranoid delusions and interpreting actions of others as threatening, suggest he is suffering from schizophrenia. This mental illness is characterized by difficulties in distinguishing reality, with treatment often involving antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mel's belief that people are spying on him and the interpretation of neutral events such as a stranger asking for directions or static during a phone call as something sinister are indicative of paranoid delusions. These delusions are a symptom commonly associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness that impacts how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, making it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not. Mel's experiences align with classic symptoms of schizophrenia, which can include hallucinations, paranoia, and delusional thinking—where the person has firm beliefs despite clear evidence against them.
Treatment for schizophrenia often involves a combination of antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy. These medications primarily work by targeting neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly dopamine, to reduce the severity of symptoms. Psychotherapy can also be an essential component in managing the illness, providing patients with skills to deal with the challenges of their symptoms.