There is a lot of misinformation floating around about mental
health and mental illness. Much of this misinformation is generated
through the media and also through people's unjustified fears. So
lets set the record straight and help you to become well informed
about the issues related to mental illness.
How common is mental illness in young
people?
Lets check out the stats.
- 1 in 4 young people aged 18 to 24 years suffer from a mental
illness.
- 1 in 100 people suffer from schizophrenia.
- 1 in 5 young people will experience an episode of depression
before the age of 18.
- 75% of mental illnesses have their onset in adolescence.
Common myths about mental illness -
BUSTED!
Myth 1: Mental illnesses are not true illnesses like
heart disease or diabetes.
BUSTED: Decades of research have
revealed that mental illnesses have a biological basis.
While environmental factors play a role in the development and
maintenance of mental illnesses, they similarly play a role in the
development and maintenance of physical illnesses.
Myth: People with a serious mental illness, such as
schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
BUSTED: People with psychotic
illnesses are rarely violent. People with schizophrenia are
more likely to be victims of violence than to commit violence
themselves.
Myth: Schizophrenia means split personality.
BUSTED: Schizophrenia is often
confused with multiple personality disorder but it has nothing to
do with personality. Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects
the way that people think. People with schizophrenia have a
unique personality in the same way as everyone else.
Myth: Depression results from a personality weakness or
character flaw.
BUSTED: Depression has nothing to do
with being 'weak'. Many highly successful people have suffered from
depression. Depression results from an imbalance in the
neurochemistry of the brain. Medication and counselling are
effective in helping people to recover. In an environment where
mental illness is stigmatized, it takes strength and courage for
people with mental health problems to seek the professional help
that they need.
Myth: If you have a mental illness, you can will it
away.
BUSTED: A serious mental illness
cannot be willed away. Avoiding or denying the problem will make
the problem worse. In an environment where mental illness is
stigmatized, it takes strength and courage for people with mental
health problems to seek professional help.
Myth: People who are mentally ill are violent
BUSTED: Research indicates that people
receiving treatment for a mental illness are no more violent or
dangerous than the general population.
People living with a mental illness are more likely to be victims
of violence, especially self-harm. It has been calculated that
the lifetime risk of someone with an illness such as schizophrenia
seriously harming or killing another person is just .005%, while
the risk of that person killing themselves is nearly 10%.
There appears to be a weak statistical association between
mental illness and violence. This seems to be concentrated in
certain subgroups, for example - people not receiving treatment who
have a history of violence, and those who abuse drugs or
alcohol.
The correlation between episodes of violence in people
experiencing mental illness is comparatively weaker than violent
behaviour in the context of alcohol abuse and violent behaviour in
young males between the ages of 15 and 25
Myth: Mental illness is a life sentence
BUSTED: Depending on the age of onset
and the severity of the mental illness, generally speaking, most
people will experience complete recovery, especially if they
receive help early. Some people may require ongoing treatment
to manage their illness.
Some people have only one episode of mental illness and recover
fully. For others, episodes of mental illness occur
occasionally with years of wellness between episodes. For a
minority of those with a more severe illness, periods of acute
illness will occur regularly and, without medication and
effectivemanagement, leave little room for recovery. Though
some people experience significant disability as a result of a
mental illness, many go on to live full and productive lives, while
receiving ongoing treatment.
Myth: Mental illnesses are all the same
BUSTED: There are many types of mental
illnesses and many kinds of symptoms or effects.
Though a particular mental illness will tend to show a certain
range of symptoms, not everyone will experience the same symptoms -
for example many people with schizophrenia may hear voices, while
others may not. Simply knowing a person has a mental illness
will not tell you how well or ill they are what symptoms they are
experiencing, or whether they may recover or manage the illness
effectively. Mental illnesses are not purely 'psychological'
and can have many physical features. While a mental illness
may affect a person's thinking and emotions, it can also have
strong physical effects such as insomnia, speech impediment, weight
gain or loss, increase or loss of energy, chest pain and
nausea.
Myth: Some cultural groups are more likely than others
to experience mental illness
BUSTED: Anyone can develop a
mental illness and no one is immune to mental health problems.
People born in Australia have slightly higher rates of mental
illness than those born outside Australia in either
English-speaking or non English-speaking countries. Many
people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee
backgrounds have experienced torture, trauma and enormous loss
before coming to Australia. These experiences can cause
significant psychological distress and vulnerability to mental
illness. Cultural background affects how people experience
mental illness and how they understand and interpret the symptoms
of mental illness.
Join the discussion
So now that we've BUSTED those myths, what are some other myths
that you have heard within your school community? Share them in the
comments section below and lets BUST them together!
References
New South Wales Mental Health Sentinel Review Committee. (2003).
Tracking Tragedy: A systemic look at suicides and homicides amongst
mental health inpatients. NSW: Centre for Mental Health, Department
of Health.
Sane Australia (2003). Factsheet 5. Violence and mental
illness
Brennan, P. A., Mednick, S. A., & Hodgins, S. (2000). Major
mental disorders and criminal violence in a Danish birth cohort.
Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 494-500
This discussion was developed with the assistance of Dr
Candice Boyd, Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist, Orygen Youth
Health