Mental Illness Myths and Facts

Myth: Mental illness cannot affect me.

• Mental illnesses are rare and only affect a few people.

• Mental illnesses can affect anyone, regardless of their background.

• Mental illnesses only affect those with a family history of mental health issues.

• Mental illnesses are not a real concern for most families.

Myth: Children misbehave or fail in school just to get attention.

• Behavior problems are always a sign of attention-seeking.

• Children with behavior problems can succeed in school with proper support.

• Misbehavior is solely due to a lack of discipline at home.

• All children who misbehave have mental disorders.

Myth: Mental illness is the same as mental retardation.

• Mental illness and mental retardation are the same disorders.

• Mental retardation is characterized by limitations in intellectual functioning and difficulties with daily living skills, while mental illness involves changes in thinking, mood, and behavior.

• Mental illness is a more severe form of mental retardation.

• People with mental illness always have lower intellectual functioning than those with mental retardation.

Myth: Children do not experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting.

• A report from the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health showed that in any given year 5-9 percent of children experience serious emotional disturbances.

• Children's actions are solely a result of their environment and parenting.

• Mental illnesses in children are not clinically diagnosable health conditions.

• Only adults can experience mental illnesses.

Myth: People with mental illnesses cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.

• A) All jobs are stressful to some extent, and productivity is maximized when there is a good match between the employee's needs and working conditions.

• B) People with mental illnesses are always unable to work due to their condition.

• C) Mental illnesses do not affect a person's ability to work in any way.

• D) Individuals with mental illnesses are less productive than those without.

Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable.

• People with mental illnesses are often more violent than others.

• The majority of people with mental health needs are no more violent than anyone else.

• People with mental illnesses are always unpredictable and dangerous.

• Most individuals with mental illnesses are aware of their condition.

Myth: Therapy and self-help are a waste of time. Why bother when you can just take one of those pills you hear about on TV?

• Treatment varies depending on the individual, and many people combine therapy with medication.

• Therapy is only effective for certain mental health issues, and medication is always the better option.

• Self-help strategies are not effective and should be avoided in favor of medication.

• Therapists and counselors are not qualified to help with recovery, so medication is the only solution.

Myth: There's no hope for people with mental illnesses.

• There are no treatments available for mental illnesses.

• People with mental illnesses can lead active, productive lives.

• Mental illnesses are always permanent and unchangeable.

• Community support is ineffective for those with mental illnesses.

Myth: Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover.

• Most people with mental illnesses get better and many recover completely.

• Once diagnosed, individuals will always struggle with their mental health.

• Recovery from mental illness is impossible without medication.

• Mental illnesses are permanent and cannot be managed.

Myth: People with mental health needs, even those who have received effective treatment and have recovered, tend to be second-rate workers on the job.

• Employers report that people with mental illnesses have lower attendance and punctuality.

• Studies show that people with mental illnesses are less motivated than other employees.

• Employers who hire people with mental illnesses report good attendance, punctuality, and quality of work.

• People with mental health needs are often unable to maintain job tenure.