Tackling stigma and breaking silence are keys to overcoming depression and other mental health problems. Unfortunately, harmful myths and beliefs keep people from raising their concerns and getting the help they need. Here are five of the most harmful myths that need to be dispelled in order to ensure that everyone can receive the hope of healthy mental health for themselves and their loved ones.
Mental health problems are caused by personal weakness or setback
As with physical health problems, mental health problems can be attributed to multiple external causes that are not the patient's fault. Causes can include traumatic events, chemical imbalances, or genetic abnormalities. Due to fluctuations in hormonal levels, one in seven women suffers from postpartum depression.
People suffering from mental health problems are unpredictable and dangerous
Mental health problems do not cause violent behavior by default. In reality, there is a much higher risk that such a patient himself will become a victim of aggression and cruelty from others. The fact is that the main determinants of aggressive behavior are most often socio-demographic and socio-economic factors.
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People with mental health problems are "crazy"
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. And you need to approach it just as seriously. Mental health problems are very common in the modern world: in every single year, about one in five people suffers from one or another mental illness. There is still a long way for society to go in dealing with people with mental health problems, and the first steps are to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health problems and to have a fuller and more serious awareness and understanding of mental health as such.
If someone looks productive and functional, they may not be suffering from mental health problems
The mere fact that someone appears to be functioning normally does not in any way diminish the potential severity of their possible mental illness. Many people suffering from mental health problems can function normally with an appropriate medical treatment plan. Some people also manage to hide their mental health problems from colleagues, acquaintances and even close friends and family members.
Most people with mental health problems can deal with this on their own without professional help
Professional help in this case is mandatory. There is ample evidence that many patients can indeed be helped. For example, statistics show that more than 80 percent of people treated for depression reported an improvement in their condition, and treating panic disorder statistically has a more than 90 percent chance of success.
Marina Ilyushenko