Despite how common mental health disorders are, many people know little about them and sometimes they believe things that are simply not true. When it comes to mental health, what we don’t know can not only hurt us, but also other people. At The Pavilion, in Williamsburg, Virginia, we want to ensure that you know the truth about mental health, so that you can care for yourself and loved ones who might struggle with mental illness.
Myth 1: Having a mental illness means you are violent and dangerous.
In reality, people with mental health disorders are more likely to harm themselves or be harmed by another person, than they are to cause harm to other people. Although the media is often very quick to connect mental illness and mass shootings, hate is not a mental illness and only about five percent of violent crimes in the United States are perpetrated by people with mental health disorders.
Myth 2: Post-traumatic stress disorder only happens to soldiers.
PTSD can occur in any person who experiences trauma. This includes people who are raped, children placed in foster care, domestic abuse victims and people who survive horrific natural disasters. It is also important to remember that not every service member or Veteran develops PTSD. Some do not develop any mental health conditions at all, while others experience anxiety, depression or other forms of mental illness.
Myth 3: Psychiatric medications are always good/always bad.
Some people view medication as an “easy way out” of dealing with mental health. Others view it as an evil conspiracy to “dope up” and take money from people who don’t actually need pills. Still others see medication as a cure-all that negates the need for therapy, coping skills and support groups. In reality, medications are just one tool that is available to treat mental illness. They can be highly effective in helping a person to regain their quality of life when prescribed in the correct dosages and taken as prescribed. Not all patients need or want to take medications to manage their mental health, but there is no shame in utilizing medications to optimize their well-being.
Myth 4: Mental illness only happens to people who are weak or unintelligent.
20 percent of American adults experience mental health concerns every year. Mental illnesses are caused by biological factors, including genetics, physical illnesses, injuries and brain chemistry, as well as difficult life experiences and family history. This means many strong, brave, smart people struggle with mental health disorders. Believing that mental illness is a character flaw or sign of low intelligence may prevent some people from seeking help, which can increase their risk of attempting suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-24. It is a tragic, and often avoidable, loss.
Myth 5: Children don’t struggle with mental illness.
Around half of all adults with mental health disorders first showed symptoms before the age of 14 and 75 percent of mental illnesses begin before a person reaches 24. It is important that parents, teachers, coaches and other adults who interact with children and teens recognize the signs of mental illness and help young people to get treatment right away. The faster a person receives treatment, the easier, faster and more completely they are likely to recover.
Myth 6: People with mental health diagnoses cannot hold down jobs.
Many people who have mental illnesses work full-time and are productive employees. Employers and colleagues often do not even know that there is a person on their team with a mental health condition unless that person chooses to disclose their health status. In fact, some very successful people from various walks of life and throughout history have struggled with mental health disorders, including:
- Lady Gaga – musician and actor
- Martin Luther King, Jr. – civil rights leader
- Naomi Osaka – athlete
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – athlete and actor
- Virginia Woolf – writer
- Winston Churchill – world leader
Myth 7: There is nothing I can do to help a person who is mentally ill.
Friends and family play a huge role in helping people with mental health disorders recover and there are many ways you can help:
- Seeing them as more than simply their diagnosis and helping them to maintain normalcy in their life during times when their condition is turning their world upside down
- Spending time with them, so that they do not become isolated
- Helping them access mental health support
- Practicing self-care and coping techniques with them
- Advocating and educating people who don’t know about mental health
At The Pavilion, we know that recovery is possible. We have the privilege of witnessing the progress our patients make every day. We are honored to have the opportunity to work with them and their support systems, as they build lives that support their mental health journey.