Myth: Mental health problems are not very common
Mental health problems are actually very common. 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in their life. These figures show the amount of people suffering with each mental health problem in a year (2009):
Depression - 2.6 in 100 people
Anxiety - 4.7 in 100 people
Mixed anxiety and depression - 9.7 in 100 people
Phobias - 2.6 in 100 people
OCD - 1.3 in 100 people
Panic disorder - 1.2 in 100 people
Post traumatic stress disorder - 3.0 in 100 people
Eating disorders - 1.6 in 100 people
Myth: It’s impossible to prevent mental health problems
Mental health problems are not caused by solely bad genes or a biological chemical imbalance, however, they can be a contributing factor. You may be more likely to suffer from a mental health disorder as you inherit susceptibility to the mental illness. Experts believe many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes rather than just one or a few and that how these genes interact with the environment is unique for every person. This doesn’t mean you will suffer with mental illness but you are more likely to. Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors such as exposure to trauma that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health problems
Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and volatile.
This is probably the most common misconception people have about mental health suffers however, mental health patients are actually more likely to be subject to violence than other people, about 10 times more likely. The majority of homicides are not committed by people with a significant mental health problem and few commit violent crime: only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Some mental health suffers can snap quickly but this only tends to be the case in extreme circumstances and only with some mental health problems.
Myth: Young people do not experience mental health problems, just hormones.
The number of teens that experience that experience mental health problems is actually quite high: 1 in 10 will experience mental health issues in their teen years. Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24. Despite the amount of young people with mental health problems, there is little support out there for them. Less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.
Myth: People with mental health problems do not experience discrimination
I don’t think when people think mental health problems that discrimination pops into their heads but 9 out of 10 people experiencing mental health problems say that they have experienced some form of discrimination. The research also showed that the way family, friends, neighbours and colleagues behave can have a big impact on the lives of people with mental health problems. I think this discrimination is mainly down to the lack of understanding most people have of mental health which is something that needs to change.
Mental health problems are actually very common. 1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental health problem at some point in their life. These figures show the amount of people suffering with each mental health problem in a year (2009):
Depression - 2.6 in 100 people
Anxiety - 4.7 in 100 people
Mixed anxiety and depression - 9.7 in 100 people
Phobias - 2.6 in 100 people
OCD - 1.3 in 100 people
Panic disorder - 1.2 in 100 people
Post traumatic stress disorder - 3.0 in 100 people
Eating disorders - 1.6 in 100 people
Myth: It’s impossible to prevent mental health problems
Mental health problems are not caused by solely bad genes or a biological chemical imbalance, however, they can be a contributing factor. You may be more likely to suffer from a mental health disorder as you inherit susceptibility to the mental illness. Experts believe many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes rather than just one or a few and that how these genes interact with the environment is unique for every person. This doesn’t mean you will suffer with mental illness but you are more likely to. Prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders focuses on addressing known risk factors such as exposure to trauma that can affect the chances that children, youth, and young adults will develop mental health problems
Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and volatile.
This is probably the most common misconception people have about mental health suffers however, mental health patients are actually more likely to be subject to violence than other people, about 10 times more likely. The majority of homicides are not committed by people with a significant mental health problem and few commit violent crime: only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Some mental health suffers can snap quickly but this only tends to be the case in extreme circumstances and only with some mental health problems.
Myth: Young people do not experience mental health problems, just hormones.
The number of teens that experience that experience mental health problems is actually quite high: 1 in 10 will experience mental health issues in their teen years. Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24. Despite the amount of young people with mental health problems, there is little support out there for them. Less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.
Myth: People with mental health problems do not experience discrimination
I don’t think when people think mental health problems that discrimination pops into their heads but 9 out of 10 people experiencing mental health problems say that they have experienced some form of discrimination. The research also showed that the way family, friends, neighbours and colleagues behave can have a big impact on the lives of people with mental health problems. I think this discrimination is mainly down to the lack of understanding most people have of mental health which is something that needs to change.