Lets talk about Mental Health
Mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, gender, religion or income. It is estimated that almost half the population lives with a mental health condition that may or may not be diagnosed or treated; however this can cause considerable dysfunction and anguish to the patients and their families. This is because a majority of people who have a mental illness can live in the community and lead productive lives. A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Serious mental illnesses include: major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder.
10 Mental Health Myths and Facts
Myth 1: Mental health problems are rare
Fact: Mental Health Problems Affect everyone and are actually very common. In 2014, about:
-
One in five adults experienced a mental health issue
-
One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression
-
One in 25 adults had to cope with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death and accounts for double the number of lives lost to homicide.
Myth 2: 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 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.
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 3: 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 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 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 4: 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.
Why is it necessary to provide mental health services? Not only can the person’s quality of life be improved but when employees with mental health problems receive effective treatment, it can result in:
-
Lower total medical costs
-
Increased productivity
-
Lower absenteeism
-
Decreased disability costs
Myth 5: 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:
-
Biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry
-
Life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
-
Family history of mental health problems
People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Myth 6: 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 7: 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 8: I can't do anything for a person with a mental health problem.
Fact: Friends and loved ones can make a huge 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:
-
Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help
-
Learning and sharing the facts about mental health, especially if you hear something that isn't true
-
Treating them with respect, just as you would anyone else
-
Refusing to define them by their diagnosis or using labels such as "crazy"
Myth 9: 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:
-
Higher overall productivity
-
Better educational outcomes
-
Lower crime rates
-
Stronger economies
-
Lower health care costs
-
Improved quality of life
-
Increased lifespan
-
Improved family life
Myth 10: If i do not come in contact with mentally ill persons or avoids any stress, I can never be afflicted with mental health problems.
Fact: You can never completely be sure of not being afflicted by mental illnesses. However, by keeping your mind, body and life active, productive, by cultivating desired social relationships and habits, emotional balance, sensible diet, exercise and sleep patterns, you can combat stress and thereby possibly avoid the debilitating effects of transient or long standing stress or genetic predisposition to mental illness.