Myths and Fact on Mental Illness
Myth: Mental illness is not a “real” or “true” medical illness like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Fact: “Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: “If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness can not be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: “Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in the brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often helps people recover.” Stuart. W, 2009.
Myth: “People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from psychosis, such as schizophrenia, are more often frightened, confused, and despairing than violent.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or ‘bad’.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a ‘bad’ person.”
Myth: “People with mental illness are poor and/or less intelligent.
Fact: Many studies show that most mentally ill people have average or above-average intelligence. Mental illness, like physical illness, can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, social class or income level.”
Myth: Mental illness is a single, rare disorder.
Fact: Mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for many disorders. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain disorders can cause misery, tears and missed opportunities for thousands of Canadians.
Myth: Words can’t hurt
Fact: Words like "crazy," "cuckoo," "psycho," "wacko" and "nutso" are just a few examples of words that keep the stigma of mental illness alive. These words belittle and offend people with mental health problems. Many of us use them without intending any harm. Just as we wouldn't mock someone for having a physical illness like cancer or heart disease, it is cruel to make fun of someone with a mental illness.”
Myth: Mental illness is not a “real” or “true” medical illness like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Fact: “Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: “If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness can not be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: “Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in the brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often helps people recover.” Stuart. W, 2009.
Myth: “People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from psychosis, such as schizophrenia, are more often frightened, confused, and despairing than violent.” Stuart.W, 2009.
Myth: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or ‘bad’.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a ‘bad’ person.”
Myth: “People with mental illness are poor and/or less intelligent.
Fact: Many studies show that most mentally ill people have average or above-average intelligence. Mental illness, like physical illness, can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, social class or income level.”
Myth: Mental illness is a single, rare disorder.
Fact: Mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for many disorders. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain disorders can cause misery, tears and missed opportunities for thousands of Canadians.
Myth: Words can’t hurt
Fact: Words like "crazy," "cuckoo," "psycho," "wacko" and "nutso" are just a few examples of words that keep the stigma of mental illness alive. These words belittle and offend people with mental health problems. Many of us use them without intending any harm. Just as we wouldn't mock someone for having a physical illness like cancer or heart disease, it is cruel to make fun of someone with a mental illness.”
