5 Myths about Mental Health
The topics of mental health and its issues have long been touchy, especially in conversations at home. Perhaps it is because of misunderstandings or general closemindedness.
But, if you’re here and you want to learn more about mental health, here are five myths that we have to rethink to foster more open conversations about mental health.
Children don’t experience mental health issues.Children and young adults may show signs of mental health problems. This is true even if they have seemingly perfect lives where they can have anything they want. It is important to check with children – your kids, your nephews or nieces, your younger siblings – once in a while to see how they are really feeling.
If we show up to be the kind of adults they can trust enough to open up, then we may be able to give them the kind of support that they need mentally before these problems grow bigger and stunt some developmental needs.
People with mental health issues are weak and damaged.Mental health problems are illnesses that can be treated. Having them does not mean that the person is weak or damaged, nor does it mean that they are unfixable. They need proper treatments and medication to get better. But, you know, people with mental health issues are strong, even just by choosing and fighting to get better.
Therapy is a waste of time and resources.There are some people who believe that therapists only milk money from people who think that therapy is real. They don’t think that anything beneficial comes from therapy. However, the truth is that going to therapy builds a stronger support system for the person who is suffering from mental illness. Going to experts will help unravel one’s issues to create a private space to heal.
Depression and anxiety aren’t real. Suck it up.The “suck it up” mentality and this stigma when it comes to mental health issues have to go. Bottling these problems up will only lead to more issues. Illnesses like depression and anxiety should be treated. Nobody really gets completely better just by sucking it up and pretending that everything is fine.
Mental health problems are just the results of not praying.This is not true. Mental health problems are heavy burdens to carry, and it is not directly correlated to one’s spirituality or lack thereof. You can’t pray the depression away. What you can pray for, if you do believe in the power of prayer, is strength for you to get better.
Mental health is important because, if not treated, it will surely affect your daily life and relationships. We should talk about this more.
Written by Erin Ocampo