The world of mental health is surrounded by stigma and taboo, so many myths have emerged that, at a social level and although they are false, we consider as true. Let’s dismantle these myths.
There are many prejudices and myths that exist in society about mental health. It is necessary to be aware of them in order to help reduce the stigma of mental illness.
If we are aware of and deny the false beliefs that arise about mental disorders,we can better understand the people who suffer from them and contribute to a better integration of these in society. Below we will mention some myths about mental health that exist and try to explain why these are false.
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Main myths about people with mental disorders
On many occasions society sees people with mental illnesses as very different from them, very distant, as “weird” people… But it is not so, having a mental health problem is more common than we think and therefore it is necessary to end all existing myths and stigmas.
1. Mental health issues don’t affect me, I’ll never have one
Thinking that mental disorders only affect or occur in a small range of people is false, since the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 1 in 4 people will suffer from a high probability of a mental disorder throughout their lives , it is say 25% of the European population will be affected at some point in their lives by a mental health disorder.
Having a well-to-do position does not guarantee freedom or immunity from mental problems, since mental disorders appear regardless of age, sex, social or economic status… They can affect anyone independently. It has also been proven that mental illnesses are more common than well-known diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer or diabetes.
For example, in the case of major depressive disorder, the World Health Organization considers that this disorder is the one that generates the most disability, thus being the leading cause of global disability and contributing very significantly to the overall global burden of morbidity. In the same way, it refers to depressive disorder as the most common mental illness, reaching a prevalence of 5% in adults worldwide.
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2. Children don’t have mental health problems
Believing that children cannot develop mental disorders is a false and very serious thought , since if we do not believe this possibility we will not detect possible problems and we will not treat them, a fact that will cause them to remain and become chronic, and may worsen the situation.
It has been proven that very young children can show signs, symptoms and warning signs that warn of a possible alteration of mental health, so if the affectations are serious and meet criteria, the clinical disorder can be diagnosed, which appears or is caused by the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.
If we look at the percentages or affected child population, we see that half (50%) of mental disorders show symptoms before the age of 14, and three quarters of mental illnesses begin before the age of 24. In this way, bearing in mind these data, it will be vital to detect and prevent early possible alterations that appear in the first years of life.
Despite the evidence found of symptoms at an early age, they still do not have the necessary attention and less than 20% of children and adolescents who present alterations and affectation with the possibility of diagnosing a disorder, are treated or cared for effectively tag. As we have previously pointed out, early detection of problems could prevent them from affecting or altering the correct development of the infant.
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3. People with mental health problems are violent and aggressive
This is another false belief that can be presented in society, since it has been proven that suffering from a mental disorder does not cause more aggressiveness or more probability of being violent than other subjects. It has been estimated that only 3 or 5% of violent or aggressive events have been carried out by people with severe mental disorders , therefore this percentage would support the statement that the majority of people with mental disorders are not more violent or aggressive .
It has been seen that contrary to what is believed, people with mental disorders are the ones who are more likely to be victims or suffer a violent attack or aggression due to the stigma and discrimination against them. Thus, it has been observed that individuals with a mental disorder are 10 times more likely to be victims of aggression.
Thus, violent behavior cannot always be related to mental disorders since these people most of the time go unnoticed and can live in society.
4. People with mental health problems can’t keep their job
It is not true that individuals with mental disorders cannot work, since it has been proven that if they receive adequate treatment they can be just as productive and efficient as other workers tag. In the same way, it is necessary to provide them with adequate conditions and give them the tools and support they require to carry out their work correctly.
If the optimal working conditions and the necessary adaptations are met, it has been seen that these people do their job well, are punctual, do not present unjustified absences and are motivated. In this way, integrating individuals with mental disorders into the workplace produces a benefit both for the company, since it gets a good worker, and for the individual himself, who feels more satisfied and productive.
5. People have mental problems because they are mentally weak
It is not correct to believe that only the “weak” or only people with a characteristic type of personality are the ones who suffer from mental disorders, since, as we have pointed out, mental problems do not understand gender, status or age.
Thus, it is understood that there are different factors that influence the appearance of a mental disorder, such as the genetic characteristics or family history of each subject or external events such as the loss of loved ones or traumatic experiences. Likewise,both “weak” and “strong” people can develop a mental disorder .
6. It’s impossible to get better or recover from a mental health problem
Not ceasing to present the disorder does not mean not improving or recovering. There are disorders that with proper intervention can disappear, but there are others that are chronic, being present throughout the life of the individual, but this fact does not mean that the person cannot recover.
It has been seen that effective treatment and adequate support allow the subject to lead a functional life , allowing him to live integrated into society and achieve goals such as being independent, starting a family or finding a job.
7. Psychological treatments are worthless, it is better to take medication
It is incorrect to think that only pharmacological treatment can improve the problem. In many mental disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, psychological therapy together with pharmacological therapy have obtained better results. Moreover,in some disorders the intervention with drugs has been seen as less effective or does not produce long-term improvement, as would be the case of specific phobias.
8. I cannot help a person with mental health problems in any way.
It has been proven that adequate social support is necessary and very appropriate in many disorders, since it encourages the patient to seek help and also positively influences treatment adherence and follow-up. In the same way, it is helpful that the changes and improvements that occur during therapy are also reinforced and generalized to other areas of the subject’s life, for this fact the collaboration of the people around them will also be essential.
9. Prevention is useless, if someone has a predisposition to a mental health problem, they will inevitably have it
Prevention is just as important as treatment, since adequate prevention reduces the possibility of more serious alterations in the future. Having the predisposition to present a disorder does not mean that you inevitably have to develop it, in this way, if correct prevention and early intervention are carried out, the probability of its appearance is reduced.
10. People with mental health problems cannot live adapted to society
As we have already mentioned in previous points, if effective treatment is received and the necessary tools are given, people with mental disorders can live integrated into society like any other.
In the same way, the statement that subjects with mental problems are better admitted to hospital centers is not correct, since it has been observed that community intervention is beneficial for them, thus presenting greater improvement in their health status and better prognosis.
11. If you have a mental disorder, it’s because you don’t take care of yourself, drink or use drugs
Yes, it has been seen that sometimes there is a relationship between mental disorders and drug use, but it is not a direct cause, drug use can precipitate mental alterations if you have a predisposition but it is not the only cause of these appearing. Similarly, it has been observed thatYes, it has been seen that sometimes there is a relationship between mental disorders and drug use, but it is not a direct cause, .
As we have mentioned before, there are many factors that influence the development of mental disorders and it is not only a consequence of unhealthy lifestyle habits.
12. If you have a mental disorder you will also have an intellectual disability
Having a mental disorder does not necessarily mean presenting an intellectual disability, since the latter is a specific diagnosis of a mental disorder but not a general characteristic of all. Some mental problems may be associated with a lower IQ, but it is not a necessary condition for all disorders.
13. It is better not to get close to people who do not have mental problems because the disorder can spread to me
This is a very wrong thought since no mental disorder is spread or passed by being in contact with a subject who suffers from it. Mental illnesses are not caused by viruses but, as we have pointed out, most have a genetic component.
14. All mental illnesses are the same
In the same way that there are different mental disorders that present different symptoms, therefore their affectations are the same, it may also be that two subjects with the same diagnosis of mental illness show different characteristics and alterations, since it influences how each person is.
15. Parents who have not taken good care of their children are the cause of their problems, the fault lies with the parents
This statement is also false since despite the fact that the type of upbringing is important for the correct development of the child and in some disorders such as those related to problems in the bond they have been decisive, they are not determinants or a direct cause for developing a mental disorder. since many other factors influence tag. Blaming the parents is not correct and does not help to apply an effective treatment.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.