World Mental Health Day
- Vanessa Mukoo
- Oct 10, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 10, 2021
image source: Wix media
October 10 is observed as World Mental Health Day. Talking about mental health issues can be extremely sensitive for some individuals. Often, our issues and concerns regarding mental health are downplayed due to stigma and invalidation by the people in our lives. Consuming and spreading misinformation about mental health is one of the root causes of stigma. To curb this, let’s break down a few myths and facts about mental health and mental health problems!
#1 Myth: Mental health problems are not common.
Fact: Mental health problems existed all around the world even before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that “1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.”
Mental health problems are extremely common and anyone can have them. You might not even be able to notice if someone has a mental disorder.
#2 Myth: People with mental health problems are aggressive, violent, and unpredictable.
(This is probably one of the most common myths about people with mental illnesses.)
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 associated with 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.
#3 Myth: People with mental illnesses cannot complete tasks and handle a job.
Fact: People with mental health problems are just as productive as their coworkers. Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good participation and punctuality as well as motivation, good work, and job tenure on par with or greater than other employees.
#4 Myth: Therapy is for the weak and is a waste of time
Fact: People with mental illnesses opt for various coping mechanisms such as exercise, medication, having a good companionship, as well as therapy. Going to therapy is a completely normal way of dealing with mental health issues. Anyone can go to therapy, not just people who have mental illnesses.
#5 Myth: Mental health problems are permanent
Fact: There is treatment available for mental illnesses just like there is treatment available for physical illnesses. The most common treatment options house psychotherapy and medication (as mentioned above). Various other mental health treatments include peer support, Self-help plan, Case management, and in severe cases, hospitalisation. Learn more about these on https://mhanational.org/mental-health-treatments.
#6 Myth: Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice and only affect females.
Fact: A study investigated the demographics of eating disorders over a 10-year period and found that most significant increases in prevalence occurred among males, individuals from lower income homes, and people aged 45 years or older. According to other research, males currently account for 10–25% of all cases of anorexia and bulimia nervosa, as well as 25% of cases of binge eating disorders.
Eating disorders are serious mental health illnesses and can prove fatal.
#7 Myth: Being suicidal makes someone crazy
Fact: Suicidal ideation is the result of depression or some other mood disorder. Having suicidal thoughts does not make someone crazy. Suicidal people are normal people and are equally human as their non-suicidal peers. Suicidal feelings go away once someone receives adequate care for their depression or other mood disorder.
The bottom line is that mental health is an integral part of health and should be treated as par with physical health. Equal importance should be given to all aspects of mental health and we should actively work to destigmatise a completely normal and essential component of life.
Sources:
https://mhs.tcnj.edu/top-10-myths-about-mental-health/#1 Myth: Mental health problems are not common.
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