Simran Gidwani
After years of being side-lined, mental health is now being given due importance gradually. However, it is yet not well-acknowledged in a country like India where common misconceptions have painted its significance in a very stigmatized manner. Hence it is of utmost importance to bust these myths and address our attention towards the underlying truth. Highlighted below are some of the ordinary misconceptions that prevail in our society till date, along with a fact attached to each which will help reveal the valid reality.
Myth 1: Mental health problems are rare and don’t affect me.
Fact: Mental health issues are very common and especially post-pandemic scenario is predicted to be even worse across the globe. One in five people do develop a mental health issue at some point of their life. In general, all humans are prone to all sorts of mental issues depending upon the nature vs nurture factor.
Myth 2: It’s all in the head.
Fact: It is all about the relationship between the mind, body and the surroundings. A lot of problems stem from external surroundings about which an individual can’t do much about.
Myth 3: Individuals who experience mental health symptoms never recover/ Mental illness is permanent.
Fact: Once provided with the right treatment and intervention, individuals can easily go back to living their happy nurturing lives. The recovery process differs from case to case but most individuals are healed in the long-term.
Myth 4: Therapy and self-help are a waste of time when one can simply take a pill.
Fact: Depending upon the individuals, treatment plan varies from medications to therapy or both. Some individuals really benefit from therapy as compared to medications whereas some do not benefit as much. However, usually the two are looked at as complementary options rather than substitutes and a combined recovery path always helps.
Myth 5: It is impossible to prevent mental health illnesses.
Fact: Addressing risk factors such as exposure to trauma can do wonders in protecting oneself from mental health illnesses. This leads to various benefits such as higher productivity, improved quality of life, increased lifespan, etc.
Myth 6: I can do nothing to support someone with a mental health problem.
Fact: A lot of things can make a difference in the life of the person, right from checking on him/her every now and then, a non-judgmental attitude, patiently listening to them, being empathetic and always being there for them are some of the ways one could be of help. In fact, friends and family are the primary influencers which is why they assume great significance and the kind of care and support they provide would determine if the person needs to seek further help from a therapist or not.
Myth 7: Personality weakness or character flaws are the cause of mental health problems.
Fact: This is not at all true and being weak or lazy has got nothing to do with mental health issues. As mentioned earlier, mental health problems stem from a combination of variety of factors that are categorized as nature (biological factors) and nurture (environmental factors). Nature constitutes factors such as genes, brain chemistry, physical illness, injury, etc, whereas life experiences such as trauma and abuse come under nurture. Hence, a lot of different things play a role in the emergence of mental issues and it is completely incorrect and immoral to blame a person for it.
Myth 8: People with mental health issues are violent and unpredictable.
Fact: Most people with mental health problems are as dispensable to violence as any normal individual would be. Hence, the prevalence of a mental illness does not naturally lead to violent behavior. Only 3-5% of violent acts can be attributed to an underlying mental illness. In fact, people with mental illnesses are 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crimes rather than the other way round!
Myth 9: Children do not experience mental health issues.
Fact: Mental illness can occur to anyone and everyone, irrespective of age. Even children show early warning signs of a mental health concerns. Half of all mental disorders do show it’s first signs before the person turns 14. Early mental health support is proven to be very beneficial as it can be treated in a quick and efficient manner before it begins to interfere with daily life and relationships.
Myth 10: Men are not prone to mental illnesses because they are strong.
Fact: All humans are prone to all sort of mental illnesses and gender is not a factor that can change this universal truth. Externally, men are believed to be physically stronger than women but this in no way justifies their mental strength and they are equally likely to develop mental disorders. Thus, rather than mocking and making fun of a crying man, one should instantly approach him, and help address his issues by acting as his support system, as he may not be willing to open up in front of others.
Myth 11: Therapists are people who give advice.
Fact: One of the main goals of therapy is to generate insight and create responsibility within the client. Therefore, the therapist abstains from giving advice as it would do more harm than good and would stunt the client’s growth. This way, it helps in empowerment of the client rather than making them dependent.
Myth 12: People with mental health problems cannot work.
Fact: It is a long persistent myth that people with mental health illnesses cannot hold down a job which is actually untrue. It may definitely be possible that individuals with “severe” mental disorders might be unable to carry out regular work, but for the others- they are as productive members of the workforce as anybody else. It is also certainly possible that even a top employee of a company might actually be facing mental issues in life, which is why it is necessary to check on your fellow colleagues from time to time as each person is facing their own struggles an you never know what all a person bears behind the smiling mask that they show to the public.
Conclusion
Sincerely hoping that debunking these myths will lead to an inch closer towards breaking the stigma around mental health. I urge each and every one of you to generate awareness by sharing at least few of the above-mentioned facts with others so that these myths can vanish from our lives and lead to the world being a better place- a warm and safe social space where everyone realizes the seriousness of such mental issues and the importance of mental health in general.
Thank you.
References
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts
https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-health-myths/
