5 Myths Surrounding Mental Health

To mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, let's take a look at 5 myths still surrounding the subject.

In recent years, we've made some notable progress in mental health. With charities like Mind, providing 'advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.' Mind and other mental health organisations have campaigned to 'raise awareness and promote understanding'. But despite their commendable work, there is still a strong social stigma attached to mental health. Here are 5 false beliefs still held:

1. Having a mental illness means that you're “crazy”! 

Having a mental illness does not mean that you're crazy! 

It means you have an illness with challenging symptoms — just like someone with diabetes. While mental illness can destabilize your mood, alter your thinking or skew your perception of reality, it doesn’t mean you are “crazy.” It means you're a human being who is susceptible to sickness and illness. 

2. Symptoms can be controlled through will power alone. 

Telling someone with depression to ‘man up’ or telling a person with chronic anxiety to ‘stop worrying’ is like telling a person with diabetes to ‘lower your blood sugar level.’ 

Believing that an individual can willingly control their illness isn’t just counter-productive; it can create additional levels of pain and shame when the person suffering is unable to make themself feel better.

3. Medication is the only solution.

For some conditions, such as bipolar disorder, medication is a crucial part of treatment. But for all mental illnesses, a comprehensive approach is essential.

Ashley Solomon, PsyD, a clinical psychologist explains “Medications work on one aspect of our bodies — neurotransmitters — but can’t make up for major problems in areas of nutrition, sleep, muscle tension, physical alignment, relationship strain, and so on.”

"This is why psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and some alternative treatments are important for managing mental illness and leading a fulfilling life," she said.

4. People have a physical illness, but people are their mental illness.

This false belief makes it difficult for people to differentiate between their identity and their illness explains Ryan Howes, a clinical psychologist and professor in Pasadena, California. And this can sabotage their recovery.

For example, if someone thinks “I am OCD,” they’ll have a tough time imagining that someday they won’t struggle with obsessions, Howes said.

“With one in four people experiencing a mental illness in their lifetime, it’s important people know their identity is much greater than a simple label or diagnosis,” he said. This is why, in graduate school, Howes and his classmates were taught to say a “man with depression” instead of “a depressive” or a “woman with schizophrenia,” instead of “a schizophrenic.”

Remember that “You aren’t your diagnosis, you are a complex, vital person coping with an illness.”

5. Psychiatric medication is bad.

Many believe that psychiatric medicine is dangerous. Either that or they believe that psych meds are 'happy pills' or an 'easy escape' for people with mental illness to avoid dealing with their problems. This is completely untrue.

Just like any other medical condition, mental illness is... an illness. 

For many patients, medication is necessary - just as it would be for a diabetic taking insulin. For some individuals (like my grandfather, who suffers from Schizophrenia), medication is needed to feel 'well'. 

For others, like those with mild to moderate anxiety, depression or ADHD, medication can help ease symptoms, so they can function normally. Having regular therapy combined with medication can greatly improve one’s quality of life.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on our mental health. It's now more important than ever to check in on friends and family. Be kind :)