5 Mental Health Myths We Indians Need To Get Over
Mental health is quite a divisive topic; we all tend to have different versions of what ‘being mentally healthy’ means. However, we all seem to be unified in our belief of certain topics; it also doesn’t help that the whole mental health concept is still sort of taboo in India.
This is why we’ve created this list of 5 mental health myths that need to go away.
Myth #1: ‘Mental Illness’ Is A Poor Excuse For Bad Behavior
Mentally ill people may act out in ways that seem strange to others.
Most people with mental illnesses are ashamed when they act out because of their illness. They aren’t trying to use the ‘mental illness’ plea; they simply lose control when their mental illness surfaces.
In instances like this, it’s important that we understand what they’re going through, and not judge them harshly based on their external behavior.
Myth #2: You Can’t Recover From Mental Illness
A number of people recover from mental illnesses, through adequate care, medication and the support of loved ones.
When a mental illness is identified early on, it can be treated a little more efficiently than when it is detected at a later stage. Irrespective of the stage or progress of the illness, a number of mental illnesses can indeed be cured.
Myth #3: Mental Health Is An Adults-Only Issue
To the contrary, mental health issues often start during childhood. This means that a number of children suffer from mental illnesses today.
The sad truth is that we don’t take mental issues in children as seriously as we should. Children younger than even 1 year old have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. We shouldn’t ignore the fact that children may be affected by mental illnesses too.
Myth #4: Everyone Is Depressed; It’s A Part Of Becoming An Adult
No, they aren’t. And this attitude is a major reason why a number of depressed people don’t seek help. While it is true that older people face depression, this is often due to a change in their social circles and their role in life.
If you get depressed as you get older, you need help, and not a blanket statement saying “it happens to everyone.”
Myth #5: Mentally Ill People Are A Violent Threat To The Rest Of Us
This is categorically untrue. People with mental illnesses are no more violent than people who don’t suffer from such problems. In fact, people with mental illnesses have a long history of being the sufferers of violence.
This misunderstanding causes a nasty and unnecessary stigma. People with mental illnesses are often ostracized from society, even by people who mean well, because of such wrong ideas.
If we are to make a change in mental healthcare, myths like these need to be eliminated from our collective consciousness. Only then can we make progress and help more people enjoy true mental health.
References:
https://www.thebetterindia.com/118587/mental-health-and-illness-10-myths-busted/
