Myths and Misconceptions about mental health.

Myths and misconceptions regarding mental disorders prevent people from reaching out for help or getting treatment at the right time. Let's bust some myths and learn about the most common misconceptions:

Very few suffer from mental health - Lack of understanding & awareness may result in wrong conclusions about the occurrence of mental disorders. 1 billion people out of 7.75 billion, almost worldwide suffer from some form of mental disorder, according to the 2022 UN data.

There is no solution to mental disorders - There are multiple treatments available like medications, therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Many have healed from mental issues and lived a happier life with the correct treatment.

People who have mental issues are mad - Mental health issues cannot be equated to madness. People with depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and eating disorders are not mad. A few cases of schizophrenia can be equated to being “mad”.

People with mental disorders are weak - Mental health problems have nothing to do with personality weakness, character flaws, laziness, or low intelligence. Environmental factors, genes, prolonged stress or high-pressure environments cause mental health problems.

Positive changes or people with a comfortable life don’t face mental disorders - A positive change like a new job or having a baby can create a high-pressure environment and add responsibilities that lead to mental health issues.

It’s just a mind problem - Our brain influences our body & controls it through chemicals and muscles. Physical health (e.g. digestive problems, sleep issues, body pain, lack of energy) get impacted when the mind-body connection is disrupted, and hence mental health is essential.

Mental health issues can be solved through exercise - Exercise is a natural medicine & it has a positive impact on mental health & boosts overall health. But it cannot be the only solution to treat mental illness. Reaching out to a psychiatrist for treatment is effective.

Medications create dependency for life and have side effects - People using medications do generally stop them after recovery. Side effects like weight gain and sleepiness can be avoided by experimenting with different types and quantities of medication.

Final Note: The theme for World Mental Health Day 2022 was to make mental health & well-being for all a global priority. Let’s be more aware of mental health, create a safe environment for friends and family to reach out, and destigmatize mental health disorders.