Public perceptions of mental illness could not change if we don`t do anything about it. It is up to us to tell others what it means to go through a certain mental state. Mental problems are real and do not always extend to human control. People who live with mental health problems are not alone – there is hope for everyone. For us, StigmaFree is more than just a campaign – it is the basis to create a better world for people affected by mental illness. If mental illness is not adequately studied and understood, no improvements would be made to the health system, treatment or research. A change can`t happen until people realize that stigma harms millions of people. Everyone who is engaged to the purposes of StigmaFree helps us get one step closer to removing the stigma. We need to show the world that we are all #IntoMentalHealth.

 

11 myths about mental health:

Myth 1 – Mental problems do not occur in children or adolescents. Everything they go through is part of growing up.

Reality: Every fifth child or young person is struggling with a mental problem. 70% of adult mental health problems begin in childhood or adolescence, including: depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and anxiety disorders. However, 79% of young people who receive help improve significantly with treatment that lasts less than 12 sessions for 66% of them.

Myth 2 – Parents are to blame if their children suffer from a mental problem.

Reality: Mental health disorders in children are caused by their biological predisposition, environment or a combination of both. They can be caused by genetic or biological factors such as chemical imbalances or excessive use of alcohol or drugs. They can also be the result of violence or neglect of treatment, as well as stressful events.

Myth 3 – People with mental illness are “psychopaths”, crazy and dangerous and need to be locked up.

Reality: Most people who suffer from a mental problem struggle with depression and anxiety. They have a normal life, but their feelings and behavior negatively affect their daily activities. Violations of their behavior and the aggravation of the problem are the main reasons for referring to social services for children and their mental health.

Myth 4 – All people diagnosed with schizophrenia are prone to violence.

Reality: A small part of violence in society is caused by people who are mentally ill. Unfortunately, Hollywood often presents mentally ill people as dangerous. People with a predominant mental health problem are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

Myth 5 – Depression is a flaw in character and people just have to “get out of it.”

Reality: Researches show that depression has nothing to do with being lazy or mentally weak. This is the result of changes in the chemical metabolism of the brain or its function. With the help of therapy and/or medication people do recover.

Myth 6 – Addictions are life choices and they show a lack of will.

Reality: Addiction is caused by complex factors, including predisposition to the environment, and sometimes other major mental states such as depression. When people who develop an addiction have these root causes of vulnerability, it is harder for them to simply give up the habit.

Myth 7 – Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), known as shock, is painful and barbaric.

Reality: Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most effective methods of treating people whose depression is so severe that antidepressants just don’t work for them.

Myth 8 – People who have a mental problem do not have a high level of intelligence.

Reality: Intelligence has nothing to do with mental illnesses or disorders. On the one hand, many people with mental health problems are brilliant in their work, they are creative, productive people. On the other hand, some people with mental disorders are not like that. Some mental problems can make it difficult for people to remember certain facts or get along with others, which presents them with cognitive challenges. In general, the level of intelligence among people with mental illnesses is probably parallel to the patterns and habits observed in any healthy population or society.

Myth 9 – People with mental disorders should not work because they will “pull” the team down.

Reality: People who have mental difficulties can do well in their workplace. They hardly need to catch up on more workdays because of their condition than people who have a chronic physical problem such as diabetes or heart disease. The real problem is the prejudice against hiring people with mental disorders (as disclosing their mental disorder will affect work/school). Unemployment leaves them isolated, and this is a situation that can add to the stress and overcoming their problem will become much more difficult.

Myth 10 – Mental problems fall into one category as one problem and this is a rare disorder.

Reality: Anxiety disorders, mood swings, personality disorders, addictions, and impulse control fall into different categories of many different mental illnesses – each with its own characteristics and underlying causes (and these are common mental disorders). Every mental illness is a variation on the theme of the chemical metabolism in the brain that has gone wrong, affecting things like mood and perception. Everything has its specific causes, characteristics and treatment approaches.

Myth 11 – People with mental health problems will never get better.

Reality: THERAPY WORKS! Treatments for all mental illnesses are more numerous and more developed than ever, and researchers continue to discover new treatments. Because of these achievements, many people can recover from mental illness.