Busting myths about mental illness

Mental illness and mental health are conundrums we would rather avoid. They are the things we would want to sweep under the carpet. Let us dust the carpet and bust the myths.

Myth 1
Mental problems are rare.
Fact: One in four people will experience a mental health problem, which means someone you know may be struggling with mental illness.

Myth 2
People with mental illness aren’t able to work.
Fact: People with a mental illness can hold down a successful job. We all probably work with someone experiencing a mental health problem.

Myth 3
You can’t recover from mental health problems.
Fact: They might not go away forever, but lots of people with mental health problems still work, have families, and lead full lives.

Myth 4
People with mental illness are usually violent and unpredictable.
Fact: Most people with mental health problems, even those with severe ones like schizophrenia, are not violent. Someone with a mental illness is more likely to be a victim of violence than to inflict it.

Myth 5
Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty – it’s nothing serious.
Fact: One in eight young people will experience a mental health problem.

Myth 6
People with mental illness are responsible for their illness or for their behaviour related to their illness.
Fact: They are overwhelmed by their life circumstances, are struggling and are not responsible for their illness.

Myth 7
I can’t do anything to support someone with a mental health problem.
Fact: There are lots of things you can do to make a difference to their lives, like :

1. Take it seriously
   It can feel embarrassing and exposing to talk about your thoughts and feelings, especially if they’re disturbing. Don’t laugh or treat it like a joke. However strange it might seem to you, remember that it’s real to them.
2. Listen and reflect
   You don’t have to have all the answers—just listening can make a big difference. Try and show that you’re taking on board what they’re saying. You can do this by reflecting—that is, saying something simple like “that sounds really difficult.” You could also say something like “thanks for telling me,” to show that you appreciate having the conversation.
3. Ask questions
   We worry about prying when it comes to others’ mental health, but it’s better to ask questions. It can help them to get things off their chest, and by keeping the conversation going, it shows that you care.
   Some of the questions you might ask:
   l What does it feel like?”
   l What kind of thoughts are you having?”
   l How can I help?”
   l Ask Twice
4. Don’t try and fix it
   It’s human nature to want to fix things, but expecting things to change right away isn’t helpful. It’s not your job to make their mental health problems go away — it’s often more helpful just to listen, ask open questions, and do things you’d normally do together.
5. Build your knowledge
   You might find it helpful to learn a bit more about what they’re going through. If they mention a specific diagnosis, you could learn more about it
   You might want to learn about the professional help that’s available to them and suggest that they explore those options.
6. Check in
7. Listen and don’t judge
8. Treat them in the same way

Dr Chavi Bhargava Sharma is the Founder and CEO of Indic Center for Psychological Wellness and Holistic Health and Conversationists—Talking Cures.