There’s so much misinformation surrounding mental health. Because of this, many common myths develop among the general population.
People make assumptions due to common stereotypes, experience with mental health, and interactions with someone with a condition. Yet doing this leads to misconceptions and more stigma.
These mental health myths make it less likely for people to seek help. They might start believing that getting care would lead to a negative reputation. Or they might think they don’t need help, nothing can help them, or they can’t access care.
No matter the reason for not getting care, it’s important that people recognize common misconceptions. This way they are more likely to find access to care and can eventually experience relief from struggles they deal with.
We’ve included and busted 15 of the most common mental health myths.
Myth 1: “I don’t know anyone with a mental health condition.”
In the US, one in five adults and 13-20% of children will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder in any given year. One in four college students has a diagnosable condition. Since these are such common conditions, you most likely know someone experiencing a disorder. Or, you may experience one someday.
Myth 2: “Mental health disorders aren’t real conditions.”
79% agree that mental health disorders are real conditions. This leaves over one-fifth of people who don’t think that they’re real health conditions. Only 45-51% of people in developed countries believe that mental illness is similar to physical illness. But these diseases are as real as any other health problem. They can result from genetics, abnormal brain chemistry, substance abuse, or in response to trauma or abuse.
Myth 3: “Children don’t have mental health disorders.”
As of 2015, over 17 million children in the US had a psychiatric disorder. In any given year, one-fifth of American children receive a mental health diagnosis. But they can be difficult to identify in children since they often have different symptoms than adults. Age can make it complicated for them to explain why they’re acting a certain way.
Myth 4: “People cannot overcome mental illness.”
Only 7% of people in developed countries believed that someone could overcome mental illness. However, most people who experience a mental health problem do recover or can live with and manage their condition. This is especially true for those who get help early. Most people can experience relief with a treatment plan.
Myth 5: “I can’t help someone who struggles with mental health.”
Showing support is actually key for someone who is struggling. Stigma is such a common reason why people don’t receive care. But showing that you care can help reduce this stigma so they’re more inclined to get help. Referring them to helpful resources or professional help can also benefit them if they don’t know where to seek help.
Myth 6: “Mental health problems are only biological or genetic.”
Psychological and environmental factors also impact mental health. For example, trauma puts people at higher risks for conditions like:
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Substance abuse
Borderline personality disorder
The environment has an impact on mental health, too. Higher exposure to green space can lower the risk for developing a disorder later in life by 55%.
Myth 7: “There’s no way to prevent a mental health condition from developing.”
Implementing protective measures to minimize risk factors helps. Some things are unavoidable like genetics and predisposition to an illness. But managing those can prevent larger issues from occurring. Mitigating factors that lead to trauma and environmental challenges can also prevent problems.
Myth 8: “Therapy and getting help is a waste of time.”
Out of around 59 million people who received mental health treatment in two years, around 80% found it effective. The average person who receives psychotherapy is better off than 79% of those who don’t receive treatment.
Myth 9: “I can handle my problems on my own.”
32% of people not in therapy think that they can handle their problems on their own. This is partly because 30% of them think that their problems aren’t “big enough.” There are some self-care steps that people can take to manage symptoms. But in most cases, mental illness won’t get better without any professional care.
Myth 10: “Getting help is a sign of weakness.”
47% of Americans think that getting mental health therapy is a sign of weakness. Stigma is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t get help, even though many recognize it as a problem. Because of this, it’s a sign of strength to get help because you show bravery by going against any chance of stigma.
Myth 11: “There is enough care available.”
66% of Americans think that people who need help can get it with the right treatment. But 96 million have to wait longer than a week for treatment and 46% know someone who has to drive over an hour for care. Over 115 million Americans live in an area where the ratio of mental professionals to residents is less than 1 per 30,000 people. Only 70% of a survey’s respondents felt they had adequate access to care.
Myth 12: “People know where to get help.”
Over 50% of Americans believe that they’d know how to get help for a condition if necessary. Yet not knowing where to get help is why 29% of the population who want to seek treatment hasn’t received it.
Myth 13: “I can’t get help without insurance.”
46% of uninsured Americans think that they’d be able to get help, compared to 69% of insured Americans. 42% of the population say that cost and poor insurance coverage was the top barrier for accessing mental health treatment. But there are still resources available. Crisis lines and response services are available to everyone, regardless of mental health history and ability to pay. Other options for those without insurance may come from:
Nonprofits
University hospitals
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
Myth 14: “People with mental illness are more violent.”
It’s a common misconception that people with mental illness are more aggressive or have violent tendencies. In developed countries, 7-8% of people believe that to be true. In developing countries, 15-16% of people agree with this misconception, too. But people with mental illness are more likely to harm themselves than others. They are also more likely to experience violence - they’re 10 times more likely to be victims of crimes.
Myth 15: “People with mental illness can’t handle holding a job.”
Around half of people with mental disorders work across all occupations. They have an employment rate of around two-thirds that of the general population. And over a third of those with serious mental illness have jobs, including high-status roles.
Conclusion
While mental health is a frequent concern for the population, many people don’t get help. This is for a variety of reasons which stem from common misconceptions.
Based on false assumptions around mental health, myths influence people’s decisions for getting help. Unfortunately, this usually means that they don’t seek care.
If problems don’t get addressed, it will just lead to more complications and suffering for people. So much of the population already recognizes that stigma exists. It’s also important that they acknowledge the presence of mental health myths. This way they can understand where and how to get help, the impacts of illness, and how encouraging getting help is important to recovery.
