Seven Myths About Mental Illness

People living with mental illness experience stigma everywhere. We are often faced with stigma at home, in the workplace, at school, in hospitals and doctors offices, and in public settings. People living with mental illness struggle with discrimination in a world that is largely still unaccepting of mental illness diagnoses, even today.

Here are seven of the most common myths about mental illness:

1. People with mental illness are violent, dangerous, and unpredictable.

In reality, the opposite is true, and people with mental illness are actually just as likely as anyone else to commit a dangerous or violent crime. Some research actually suggests that people living with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of violent crime rather than the perpetrators.

2. Mental illness is a rare condition.

Actually, approximately one in five adults and one in ten children will be diagnosed with a mental illness at some point in their lifetime.

3. People with mental illness cannot hold a job or be successful and productive members of society.

This couldn't be further from the truth. There are many persons diagnosed with mental illness, including public figures and celebrities, that lead successful lives.

4. Mental illness is just a personal flaw and they just need to "get over it".

If it were that easy, there wouldn't be an entire field dedicated to the research and treatment of mental disorders. In reality, persons with mental illness often struggle to accept their diagnosis at first, and also struggle to process the idea that this is something that requires a lot of treatment and hard work in order to maintain recovery, which brings us to our next myth:

5. Recovery is virtually impossible for those with mental illness.

Again, this is something that couldn't be further from truth. In fact, persons with mental illness can fully recover and go into what they call "remission" from mental illness, which means the symptoms of the disorder or condition are not presenting in them anymore, or they are not causing any more issues in their lives. It means they have learned to manage their mental illness, the ups and downs, the coping skills, and can now be functional in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, not every person with mental illness will reach this point in their lifetime, but it is possible.

6. People with mental illnesses and disorders are "insane" or "crazy".

The negative terminology often associated with mental illnesses can cause unfair judgments about persons with mental illness. The word "crazy" in itself can be seen as offensive to a lot of people with mental illness. Imagine being burderned with mental illness and never being taken seriously by anyone? Imagine speaking your truth, but nobody listening, no one really hearing. Their voices need to be heard and respected just as much as anyone else's, even if they have a mental illness or mental disorder. "Insane" used to be a common term used, especially in the 1800s, in mental institutions. It is derogatory language used to refer to someone with a mental illness by those who don't have one, and it is not acceptable. Having a mental illness doesn't mean you are crazy; you have a different way of perceiving the world, but that doesn't make you a "crazy lunatic". Oftentimes, persons with mental illness just need a little help getting their lives back on track, or assistance in navigating a world that is more catered to people who do not have mental illness.

7. Lastly, another myth about mental illness is that there is really nothing the general public, family, or friends can do to help their loved ones that may have a mental illness.

This is obviously not true. There are many opportunities for friends, family, and even community members to get involved in the treatment of the individual suffering from a mental illness. Building strong support systems is one of the best ways to help those with mental illness, because oftentimes we feel overlooked, judged, and stigmatized by the larger society. This can make it very hard for many to speak up when they are having a problem, and it is the reason why a lot of people don't ever end up seeking treatment for their mental illness. Family and friends should be points of support for those struggling, offering a shoulder to lean on, even just being there for the person, can make a huge difference.

As you can see, there are many myths associated with mental illness, and it is important for us to understand why these myths exist, but also how to prevent things like this from continuing in the mental health field. As a community of supportive and accepting people, it is our job to help promote awareness about mental illness and mental health support so that we can end the stigma and create a better living environment for future generations.