Mental Health Myths and Facts

Mental health issues do not manifest as visually as a broken leg or the flu, but that does not make them any less real. They affect a person’s life just as surely as a broken bone would.

Unfortunately, many people tend to only understand and empathize with illnesses that they can see. Because mental illness does not fall into the category of visible illnesses, a large number of people have wrong ideas and bad information when it comes to mental health.

Here are some of the common misconceptions that surround mental health issues.

Common misconceptions about mental health

1. Only weak people suffer from mental illnesses

That is not the case at all. Mental illness cannot be wished away by sheer force of will. If a person has a mental illness, their personal strength can only help them get through the rough times.

Mental health issues are caused by all sorts of factors. For example:

• People with a family history of diseases like schizophrenia are vulnerable to such illnesses
• Environmental factors like abuse and deprivation can cause mental illnesses
• Traumatic experiences like a loss, war or surviving an attack can also result in mental illness

2. This person is not depressed, they are just sad

Depression is a mental illness that actually affects how a person’s body works. It can also be hard to spot. Many people who suffer from depression manage to go about their normal lives and put on brave faces.

And while sadness goes away, depression lasts until it is treated.

3. A positive attitude and prayer will cure mental illness

Sure, they can go a long way to help a person manage mental illness, but they rarely work on their own. Mental illness needs to be managed with medical attention.

4. A person with a mental illness will never recover

Some mental health conditions can be treated and cured completely, especially those caused by a traumatic event or some other trigger.

Illnesses like schizophrenia, on the other hand, can be managed in such a way that a person ends up living a happy and productive life.

5. They cannot handle work and school

A person can manage their mental illness and go on to live a full life. An important part of treatment is therapy, where a patient learns to deal with stressful and challenging situations like work and school.

6. A person with mental illness is dangerous

The truth is that most people who suffer from mental illness are non-violent. In fact, they are more likely to be harmed than to cause harm.

7. They should be committed

Many people who suffer from mental illness are high functioning. Many more function well enough to take care of themselves. Which means that the majority of the people who deal with mental illnesses do just fine out there in the real world.

All they need is the right treatment and the support of friends, loved ones and the people they deal with every day.

8. Mental illness is rare

The truth is, mental illness is more common than most people think. A large percentage of people that suffer from mental illness lead fairly normal lives. They hold down jobs and go to school. Some volunteer their time to help others, and many of them have good relationships.

This means that a layperson could be working with a person that has a mental health issue and never know it. That is why the idea of putting all sufferers of mental illness in institutions is strange. There simply are not enough institutions to hold them all.

Good information is an important way to deal with mental health issues

The best way to reduce the number of people that have an untreated mental illness is to create awareness and get the facts out there for the public to consume.

Need help with a mental health issue?

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