While there’s increasing awareness about mental health and the need for destigmatizing mental illnesses, we still have a long way to go. Mental health myths and misconceptions continue to plague us, especially with so much misinformation on the internet. So, what are some facts about mental health that everyone should be aware of?

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What This Article Covers:

• What Is Mental Health?
• Mental Health Myths vs. Facts
• Common Mental Illnesses
• Treatments
• Next Steps

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health is our psychological, emotional and social state of mind. It’s related to how people feel and behave. Stable and healthy minds contribute to psychological well-being and a productive life.

It’s an essential part of our overall health and plays a vital role in making rational decisions.

Mental health is complex. Most people relate mental health only to mental illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and similar afflictions. However, the reality is quite different. It’s more than just illness and varies from person to person.

Mental health and mental illnesses exist on a spectrum and can affect anyone from any race, gender or country.

Mental Health Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Mental illness is a sign of weakness or character flaw.

Fact: There’s a common misconception that mental illnesses arise due to personal weaknesses or character flaws and that people can “snap out of it” if they try hard enough.

The reality is that mental illnesses are a serious concern that can affect anyone regardless of their willpower or discipline. People do not choose to be mentally ill. In fact, it takes courage and strength to seek treatment and open up about such conditions due to their stigma.

Mental conditions can happen due to biological, social or physical factors or a combination of any of them. Some causes that may contribute to mental illnesses are:

• Genetic predisposition
• History of trauma or abuse
• Chemical imbalances
• Brain injuries
• Social isolation or loneliness
• Chronic physical illness
• Socioeconomic oppression (such as sexual abuse that primarily women face)

Myth: Suicidal people are selfish or cowardly.

Fact: Despite increasing awareness about mental health, myths about suicide continue to prevail. It’s essential to be mindful when talking about suicide, as shaming a suicidal person as “selfish” or “cowardly” doesn’t snap them out of the issue. Stigma like this can make someone’s condition worse and make them hesitant to seek help.

Suicidal people are in a significant amount of pain. They often don’t want to take their own life; they just look for ways to stop their agony. Suicide is a complex and final decision — a result of a mix of biological, environmental and socioeconomic factors — and to blame it solely on the individual’s character is doing them a great disservice.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call 988. It’s a 24/7 toll free suicide prevention hotline.

Myth: Mental illnesses are rare.

Fact: This misconception likely stems from a lack of honest and open dialogue about mental health in our culture. Mental health conditions are quite common. As of 2021, more than one in five U.S. adults have a mental illness. 14.1 million adults aged 18 or older live with serious mental illnesses.

According to WHO, 280 million people in the world have depression. Some other common mental conditions are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, OCD, eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. The myth that mental illnesses are rare can stop people from getting the help they need as they fear others might look at them as “crazy” or “nuts.”

Myth: Everyone with mental illnesses needs medication to manage their symptoms.

Fact: While some people need medication to manage their symptoms, it’s not always the case for everyone. No two people are the same, and the way their mental condition manifests isn’t the same either.

Medical professionals can recommend medication if necessary, sometimes in combination with CBT, DBT, EMDR, CPT, group therapy or other types of therapies. All these methods can greatly help manage various conditions. Complementary therapies like art, dance, yoga and acupuncture are also helpful in addressing trauma and PTSD.

Myth: People with mental illnesses cannot work or hold jobs.

Fact: A harmful myth, which can lead to workplace stigma, is not always true. While some individuals with serious mental conditions struggle to work, most people with mental illnesses can be as punctual, functional and dedicated as neurotypical people in a workplace.

It’s important to note that even people without diagnosed mental conditions can have workplace burnout. According to APA, up to 77% of employees can experience work-related stress. It’s helpful and productive to care about your employees’ mental health, with 92% of workers saying that their organization must value emotional and psychological well-being.

Myth: Only people without friends or support systems need therapy.

Fact: There’s a big difference between talking to a therapist and talking to a friend. Therapy is a different level of support that only a skilled and trained professional can provide. It’s confidential, objective and entirely focused on the individual, which differs significantly from informal conversations with friends.

Plus, there may be many reasons why a person doesn’t have many friends, and no one should look down upon that. The stigma of loneliness or not having friends can also exacerbate mental conditions and hinder people from seeking help.

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Myth: Children and teens don’t experience mental health issues.

Fact: We often overlook mental health conditions in children, teenagers and young adults. The conditions of 9 out of 10 ADHD and ASD patients and 3-4 out of 10 depressive disorder patients onset by the age of 25. Even children as young as five can have clinically diagnosable mental health concerns.

These problems are not always due to bad parenting. They’re often a combination of biological, social and environmental causes — factors that are beyond the control of both parents and children. Unfortunately, many adolescents don’t get the help they need.

Spotting signs and getting treated early can reduce the risk of developing comorbid or secondary conditions like substance abuse disorder.

Myth: There’s no hope for someone once they develop a mental health condition; they can never recover.

Fact: Getting diagnosed with a mental illness doesn’t have to be a life sentence. People can live satisfying, fulfilling and “normal” lives with the right treatment — medications, therapy or both. While some mental conditions like depression or anxiety have no cure, people can recover from them and manage their symptoms on a daily basis.

It’s also important to note that recovery means different things for different people. To some, it’s living like they lived before the condition onset and to some, it’s about leading happy and productive lives. There’s more mental health awareness now than ever before. Getting treatment may still be difficult for many, but it’s definitely worthwhile.

Myth: I can’t do anything to help someone struggling with mental health.

Fact: Friends and family can play a vital role in helping a person recover from mental health issues. Loneliness and social isolation can worsen many mental illnesses, so it’s important that people get all the support they need. You can:

• Let them know you’re there for them
• Help them find mental health resources
• Learn about their condition and validate their feelings
• Respect them and use person-first language
• Try to help in practical ways when they’re struggling, like helping them clean their home or do laundry
• Encourage them to be physically active or exercise with them
• Take care of your own mental health and get help if needed

Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent or abusive.

Fact: This is one of the most damaging myths about mental health, but not everyone with a mental illness is violent or abusive. While there’s a minority of people with severe mental conditions like schizophrenia or antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) who’ve shown to be more violent than the general population, the majority of people with mental health concerns are not violent.

In fact, people with mental illnesses are more likely to be a victim of violent crime than a perpetrator.

When it comes to abusive behaviors, counselor Lundy Bancroft, the author of “Why Does He Do That?” wrote “Mental illness doesn’t cause abusiveness any more than alcohol does.” He clarifies that abusers’ “value system is unhealthy, not their psychology.” And research has backed this claim that abusers abuse due to inherent values they hold and not necessarily due to their mental health.

Yes, abuse and mental illness can coincide, but mental health concerns don’t automatically cause someone to become abusive.

Myth: Mental health care is only for people with severe issues.

Fact: Even if you don’t have any diagnosable conditions and your issues are on the milder end of the spectrum (like work stress or relationship issues) — you can still benefit from mental health care and therapy.

Along with accessing mental health resources, you can bolster all areas of your life with a healthy diet, exercise, proper sleep schedule, and socializing with friends and family.

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Common Mental Illnesses

The following are some common mental illnesses:

Anxiety Disorders

Various forms of anxiety can occur in children and adults. This includes generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia, agoraphobia, selective mutism and social anxiety disorder.

According to a Statista report tracking weekly and biweekly symptoms of anxiety disorder in U.S. adults, at any given point, between 24.5% to 37.2% of respondents self-reported experiencing symptoms between 2020 and 2023.

Here are some symptoms you can keep an eye out for:

• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Perspiring
• Racing and/or unwanted thoughts
• Hypervigilance
• Excessive worry
• Palpitations
• Trembling

Someone can experience several anxiety disorders throughout one lifetime. They may also face more than one type of anxiety at one time.

Depression

Depression is one of the most common types of mood disorders around the world.

Similar to the anxiety report mentioned above, Statista monitored weekly and biweekly self-reports of depressive disorder in U.S. adults. Between 2020 and 2023, anywhere from 20.9% to 30.2% of U.S. adults reported symptoms.

According to DSM-5, some common symptoms of major depressive disorder are:

• Diminished interest in all or almost all activities
• Depressed mood most of the day
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
• Increase or decrease in appetite

Other types of mood disorders include persistent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, seasonal depression and more.

Schizophrenia

One of the most serious mental illnesses in the U.S. is schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia interpret reality in a very different way compared to neurotypical people. The condition causes extremely disordered thinking and behavior, making it difficult to perform daily tasks. Treatment for schizophrenia is often lifelong.

According to DSM-5, some symptoms of schizophrenia are as follows:

• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Disorganized speech
• Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
• Diminished emotional expression

Symptoms of schizophrenia may vary over time, with periods of remission and deterioration.

Dementia

Dementia involves severe loss of motor skills, thinking capability and memory. Although dementia isn’t classified as a disease in the traditional sense, several mental health disorders can lead to dementia in a person.

Often, Alzheimer’s disease in older patients causes dementia after a few years. Diagnosing dementia without a licensed professional is difficult, as memory loss can happen due to multiple reasons.

Some symptoms of dementia are:

• Memory loss or confusion
• Difficulty speaking, understanding or expressing thoughts
• Wandering or getting lost
• Personality changes
• Problems with reasoning or problem-solving
• Poor coordination or control of movements

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Treatment

Illnesses such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder can run in families. These diseases interfere with a person’s thoughts, memories and sensory skills. However, many mental conditions are treatable, and people can manage them on a day-to-day basis with the right help.

Let’s see some of the treatment options available today.

Psychotherapy or Counseling

Popularly known as “talk therapy,” this is one of the most widespread forms of treatment for mental illnesses. It involves a mental health professional and sessions where patients discuss varying topics.

Counselors provide relaxation exercises and suggest coping mechanisms based on the patient’s thoughts and habits. This therapy is done one-on-one with the patient and has several types, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Prescription Medicine

Several mental illnesses react well to external medications prescribed by psychiatrists. Medicinal drugs such as antidepressants and antipsychotics help patients counter symptoms of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

They change chemicals in the brain to act a certain way, which helps ease emotions and thoughts. Although medications won’t cure depression or other mental conditions, they can help counteract the symptoms.

Individuals should only take medications prescribed by a psychiatrist. Further, it’s also essential to continue medications without missing any dosage or stopping abruptly.

Support Groups

Self-help and other community groups help patients gain valuable insights and coping techniques for their mental conditions.

Support groups aim to reduce hospitalization by building a community. Online group sessions provide support to individuals in their homes, which can be vital for those who struggle in public and social environments.

Certain groups support talking and engaging in activities together to build friendship, trust and a sense of camaraderie between individuals living with similar conditions. This helps reduce feelings of isolation, which can be prevalent in people with mental illnesses.

Brain Stimulation Therapy

This therapy sends electric shock waves to the brain to stimulate the areas associated with thinking and motor response. The treatment is also known as electroconvulsive therapy (ET). It can help alleviate troubling symptoms.

Hospital and Residential Treatment

For certain serious mental health conditions, therapists suggest hospitals and residential home treatments. Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s can sometimes affect patients’ daily lives, leaving them incapable of performing basic actions. In those cases, extended care in hospitals becomes an option.

Technology

Today, numerous mental health software are available to streamline care delivery for therapists and hospitals. They help therapists create digital care plans and allow patients to book their appointments online, saving valuable time.

Technologies such as EHR, EMR and other medical software optimize clinical workflows and connect patients with therapists without difficulties. While these solutions aren’t always directly involved in treatment, they streamline and simplify processes for medical professionals so they can focus more on providing treatment.

They can also directly support treatment by providing resources to patients through patient portals. Medical professionals can give mental illness and prescription information, self-guided exercises, and other treatment resources for patients to access anywhere.

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Next Steps

It’s likely that we all will struggle with mental health issues at some point in our lives. This further emphasizes why everyone deserves access to mental health resources without harmful myths standing in the way. Part of destigmatizing mental illnesses is realizing that the struggle is universal and asking for help is actually a sign of resilience.

Are you a therapist or other medical professional looking to ramp up mental health treatment services? Check out our free comparison report to find out about the industry leaders in mental health software.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, refer to the National Institute of Mental Health’s help resources.

What other important mental health facts do you have to share? Which mental health myths do we as a society need to do away with? Let us know in the comments below.