Mental health
problems affect everyone. Can you tell the difference between a mental health
myth and fact?
Myth:
Mental health problems don't affect me.
Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common.
In 2014, about:
1. One
in five American adults experienced a mental health issue
2. One
in ten young people experienced a period of major depression
3. One
in twenty-five Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
Suicide
is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It accounts for the
loss of more than 41,000 American lives each year, more than double the number
of lives lost to homicide.
Myth:
Children don't experience mental health problems.
Fact: Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health concerns. These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable, and can be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns fourteen years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age twenty-four.
Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. Early mental health support can help a child before problems interfere with other developmental needs.
Myth:
People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.
Fact: The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and only three to five percent of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over ten times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. You probably know someone with a mental health problem and don't even realize it, because many people with mental health problems are highly active and productive members of our communities.
Myth:
People with mental health needs, even those who are managing their mental
illness, cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.
Fact: People with mental health problems are just as productive as other employees. Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good attendance and punctuality as well as motivation, good work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees.
When employees with mental health problems receive effective treatment, it can result in:
1. Lower
total medical costs
2. Increased
productivity
3. Lower
absenteeism
4. Decreased
disability costs
Myth:
Personality weakness or character flaws cause mental health problems. People
with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough.
Fact: Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
1. Biological
factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry
2. Life
experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
3. Family
history of mental health problems
People with mental health problems can get better, and many recover completely.
Myth:
There is no hope for people with mental health problems. Once a friend or
family member develops mental health problems, he or she will never recover.
Fact: Studies show that people with mental health problems get better and many recover completely. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. There are more treatments, services, and community support systems than ever before, and they work.
Myth: Therapy
and self-help are a waste of time. Why bother when you can just take a pill?
Fact: Treatment for mental health problems varies depending on the individual and could include medication, therapy, or both. Many individuals work with a support system during the healing and recovery process.
Myth: I
can't do anything for a person with a mental health problem.
Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a big difference. Only 44% of adults with diagnosable mental health problems and less than 20% of children and adolescents receive needed treatment. Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the treatment and services they need by:
1. Reaching
out and letting them know you are available to help
3. Learning
and sharing the facts about mental health, especially if you hear something
that isn't true
4. Treating
them with respect, just as you would anyone else
5. Refusing
to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as "crazy"
Myth: Prevention
doesn’t work. It is impossible to prevent mental illnesses.
Fact: Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors such as exposure to trauma that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health problems. Promoting the social-emotional well-being of children and youth leads to:
1. Higher
overall productivity
2. Better
educational outcomes
3. Lower
crime rates
4. Stronger
economies
5. Lower
health care costs
6. Improved
quality of life
7. Increased
lifespan
8. Improved
family life[i]
“I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission. I
suffered for years because I was scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my
mental health suffered and my relationships suffered. And I'm standing here
today, with all of you, on the other side of all that pain.” (Ellen Page)
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