Myths About Mental Illness

15/02/2022

Have you ever thought about mental health? Most likely, you know of someone who has experienced mental health at some point in their life. 1 out of every 5 people in Canada will experience a mental health issue. Is there is a difference between mental health and mental illness? Yes, there is. In fact, mental health is an umbrella term used to describe one’s mental state as a whole. Mental illness on the other hand, refers to certain diagnoses and disorders associated with mental health. But let’s talk about some myths and facts that you might have heard in passing. Let’s also look at debunking those myths and how mental illness affects those who suffer from it.

15/02/2022

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association there are myths associated with mental illness. Here are some to name a few.
1. Mental Illness will never affect me.
2. Mental illnesses are not real illnesses.
3. Mental illnesses are just an excuse for poor behaviour.
4. People with mental illnesses are violent and dangerous.
5. Bad parenting causes mental illness.
6. People don’t recover from it.
7. People who experience mental illness can’t work.
8. People who experience mental illness are weak and can’t handle stress.
9. Kids can’t have a mental illness like depression.
10. Everyone gets depressed as they get older.

I will expand upon each of these below.

15/02/2022

1. Mental Illness will never affect me. As stated before, 1 out of every 5 people will experience a mental health diagnoses or struggle with their mental health. “By age 40, about 50% of the population will have had a mental illness”. (Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness, n.d.) Many of them won’t recognize or acknowledge that that is happening. Many will also meet at least one or two people who struggle.

15/02/2022

2. Mental illnesses are not real illnesses. That could not be more far from the truth. Yes, they are in fact quite real. Even though the illness may not be visible on the outside, internally there is a battle going on. Many experience it so strongly that it interferes with their everyday life.

15/02/2022

3. Mental illnesses are just an excuse for poor behavior. Sometimes those who struggle with their mental health can exhibit odd behavior, especially in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. However, it by no means indicates that they are just “faking” it or using it as an excuse for undesirable behavior. A lot of times there are cries for help from these people and we need to see it that way.

15/02/2022

4. People with mental illnesses are violent and dangerous. This is probably one of the largest myths out there. While there is a select few who do exhibit these behaviours. The majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent. Sometimes the opposite is true. They have kindness and compassion for those who suffer similarity.

15/02/2022

5. Bad parenting causes mental illness. As stated before, 1 out of every 5 people will experience a mental illness. This is regardless of their upbringing. Someone can come from a “well-rounded” family and still struggle. It can be more stressful when they come from a well-to-do family because they may be scared to come out with it. There are some environmental factors that may cause some mental health diagnoses. But what we are looking at is parenting in and of itself.

15/02/2022

6. People don’t recover from it. While some do well for a time and then maybe have a relapse. With the proper treatment and follow up care, many will recover and go on to live relatively normal lives. There will be good days and bad days but overall, their mental health will improve. It is also important to have a good support system.

15/02/2022

7. People who experience mental illness can’t work. As stated before, with proper care individuals can lead a normal life. That includes holding a job. In fact, having a job improves one’s mental health. It gives people a sense of accomplishment and purpose. They actually want work for this very reason.

15/02/2022

8. People who experience mental illness are weak and can’t handle stress. What most outside people do not know is that those who struggle with their mental health are stronger because of it. They have been through so much more and have learned to manage their stress effectively. There are times when the stress gets the better of them, but they are able to pull out their toolbox and combat that stress.

15/02/2022

9. Kids can’t have a mental illness like depression. We do hear of more adults having a mental illness but that does mean that children don’t experience it. “In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children will receive appropriate mental health services”. (Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness, n.d.) That shows that many children do experience mental illness.

15/02/2022

10. Everyone gets depressed as they get older. This is stigmatizing our older population. Or are we saying that getting depressed is just a part of getting older? There are many older adults who are happy and satisfied with their lives. It really depends on their lifestyle and life events. However, to say that every older adult gets depressed as they reach the age of being a senior is not true.

15/02/2022

As a Developmental Service Worker having the right knowledge and being able to support those is the important part. Many of those with a disability will also have a mental heath diagnosis. Caring for these individuals means being able to be empathetic towards them.

In conclusion, many of these myths are just stigmas and peoples’ perception of mental illness. If they really took the time to get to know someone with a mental illness, they might very well change their belief and perceptions. Even though we are doing a much better job at understanding mental health. We still have some work to do. I am hoping this page clarifies and brings more knowledge to those who read it. Mental health affects us one way or another and we need to be prepared and educated.

10/02/2022

Works Cited

Myths About Mental Illness. (n.d.). CMHA National. Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://cmha.ca/brochure/myths-about-mental-illness/

Fast Facts about Mental Health and Mental Illness. (n.d.). CMHA National. Retrieved February 10, 2022, from https://cmha.ca/brochure/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/

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