Myths About Mental Illness

Source: PR Newswire, 5 October 2001

Misconceptions about mental illness can have serious consequences for millions of sufferers, contributing to the stigma that leads many people to feel ashamed and preventing them from seeking help. This is the view of the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) in the USA, which has surveyed mental health professionals to determine exactly what the myths are.

Top ten mental health myths

Two common myths were that psychiatric illness is not a true medical illness, and that those with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are dangerous and violent. In fact, many psychiatric disorders have genetic and biological causes, which can be effectively treated with medication. Those suffering from a psychosis are more likely to be frightened, confused, or despairing than violent, and the incidence of violence is similar in those with or without a brain disorder.

Causes of mental illness

Several common myths concern the causes of mental illness: for example, that mental illness is the result of bad parenting, that depression results from a personality weakness or flaw, or is a normal part of ageing. Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility combined with other risk factors leads to psychiatric disorders, which therefore have a physical cause. Those with depression are not weak or lazy, and cannot 'snap out of it' if they try; medication and/or psychotherapy can treat the underlying changes in brain chemistry and function. Finally, depression is often undiagnosed in the elderly, but it is no more normal in this group than in younger people.

Perhaps as the other side of the coin, many people think that depression and anxiety disorders do not affect children, and any problems they have are a 'normal' part of growing up. In the USA, up to 10% of children and adolescents are thought to have a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment, but only 20% of these receive any help.

Treatment of mental illness

Yet other myths concern the treatment of mental illness. Schizophrenia is commonly confused with multiple personality disorder and thought to be untreatable. In fact, medication helps many people with schizophrenia to regain their ability to think clearly and logically, and to lead fulfilling, productive lives.

'Willpower' is often cited as the best cure for mental illness, and in particular addiction is viewed as a lifestyle choice showing a lack of will power. In fact, mental illness cannot be willed away, and professional help is needed. Addiction generally results from a change in brain chemistry, and has nothing to do with being a 'bad' or 'weak-willed' person.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as shock treatment, is still viewed by some as painful and barbaric, though it has given a new lease of life to many sufferers of severe and debilitating depression when other treatments have failed or cannot be used. ECT is administered under anesthesia, and patients are unaware of it happening.

Dispelling the myths

Myths such as these do enormous harm to those with legitimate illnesses who should and could be treated, said Dr Herbert Pardes, President of NARSAD's Scientific Council. Research in brain disorders is flourishing, and new and better treatments are expected in the future. Dispelling the myths surrounding mental illness is a powerful step towards eradicating them, and eradicating the fears surrounding brain disorders.