10 myths about Mental Health (and why they are false)

The mental health It has been defined by the WHO, the World Health Organization, as obtaining a state of complete well-being at a physical, mental and social level. It cannot be considered as the absence of disease or disorder only.

As a result of the popularization of the concept of mental health, a considerable number of prejudices and erroneous beliefs that complicate the social inclusion of people with mental health problems.

The main myths about mental health

Mental health issues are not uncommon. In data from the Ministry of Health, 6.7% of the Spanish population has anxiety disorders, 4.1% depressive disorders, 5.4% sleep disorders and 1.2% psychotic disorders. 34.3% of women and 17.8% of men over 40 years of age in Spain have ever taken antidepressant, anxiolytic or sedative medications.

For this reason, it is of vital importance that discourses and narratives be built that dignify mental health and give value to the experiences of people who see theirs damaged. In this article we are going to discuss 10 myths about mental health and explain why they are false.

1. Having mental health problems is very rare.

As we have already presented, the data on mental health in Spain make us realize that problems of this type cannot be considered isolated cases or social minorities. Adding one more piece of information, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 29; we should not consider mental health problems in isolation.

Data from the World Health Organization predict that 1 in 4 people, that is, 25% of the world's population, will suffer from a mental disorder at some point in their lives. In addition, the World Health Organization also shows that mental health problems are not related to gender or age; They can affect anyone.

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2. People with mental health problems become aggressive

This is a completely false myth. Studies show that people with a mental health problem are not violent, but are just as likely to experience episodes or moments of violence as any other person. In fact, people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims of violence compared to the rest of the population.

Maintaining this false belief that people with mental disorders are violent only increases the difficulty of social inclusion of these people, and increases the stigma that exists towards them and their experiences.

3. People with mental health problems cannot live in society

The fact that people with mental health problems are isolated from society is nothing more than a reflection of the victimization and social exclusion suffered by the fact of suffering the disorders that suffer. Obviously, having mental health problems does not isolate them from society; it is society itself that, by not accepting these experiences and classifying them as rare or strange, ends up pushing these people towards exclusion. These people are perfectly capable of living in society and their abilities or social skills do not have to be affected.

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4. Mental health problems are for life

Indeed, there are chronic mental disorders and they will accompany people who suffer from them throughout their lives. This is not the case for all disorders, but so we must understand that the action of psychological and pharmacological treatments is reduce as much as possible the implications of mental disorders in the daily lives of those affected. This means that, with correct treatment, people with mental health problems can usually lead lives adapted to the norm.

5. Boys and girls do not have mental health problems

We tend to think that childhood is relentless and that boys and girls cannot suffer problems. This is false, the reality is that minors also have problems, and this includes mental health problems. The World Health Organization notes that half of mental disorders begin at age 14, but in most cases go undetected and untreated, which lengthens your problem and can make it chronic.

For this reason, it is important to make visible and understand these realities so that knowledge can spread. about childhood disorders and increase the capacities and possibilities of detecting and treat them.

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6. Mental health problems only affect the weakest people

A character that is weaker or not as resistant as others has no relationship or influence on the possibility of developing mental health problems. Personality variables are usually considered unrelated to mental problems. However, genetic influence or inheritance, the experience of traumatic or highly stressful experiences and the functionality of family ties, to put Some examples.

7. People with mental health problems should be hospitalized

This myth has its origin in the extension and popularization during the history of asylums or mental health institutions; known for the isolation and experiences of violence experienced by the people admitted to them. Today, mental health centers are often dedicated to temporary serious episodes.

The objectives of these treatments are those of social inclusion and in the daily life of people with mental health problems; not to isolate and exclude from the rest of the people those who suffer from a mental disorder.

8. Medication only serves to treat mental health problems

It is often thought that the only measure to solve mental health problems is the use of medications. Mental disorders and the people who suffer from them have tended to be extremely medicalized; Coming to consider them only functional if they take the medication they should and have adequate psychopharmacology control for them.

However, the treatment for mental health that has received the most empirical support and results over time is that of the combination of pharmacological treatments together with psychological therapy. In addition, there are disorders for which there is no pharmacology or it is not essential to take it for recovery. Therefore, it is important for people with mental disorders to have access to psychological therapy and Being able, hand in hand with psychology, to gradually solve these problems that endanger your health mental.

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9. We cannot help people who have mental disorders

To think that the only help that people with mental disorders can receive or the only useful resource for them is psychological or pharmacological therapy is wrong. Anyone can help people with mental disorders in the same way that they can help people without mental disorders.

Social support is a fundamental component for recovery from any disorder or mental health problems, in addition to being a key indicator to achieve emotional and psychological well-being in all its aspects. Social support basically refers to social accompaniment through problems, providing the emotional help that anyone may need in their recovery.

On the other hand, you can also collaborate with any cause related to mental health that interests you, acting as a volunteer in an organization that is within your reach. There are many ways to help and improve the lives of people with mental health problems who may be feeling in processes of social exclusion.

10. Going to the psychologist is useless

Psychological therapy offers a professional and structured approach to address mental health issues and maximize emotional well-being. The results of psychological therapy can vary according to each individual, but generally, seeking professional help will always be an important step towards improving mental health. Surely receiving psychological therapy will be more effective for your mental health than not receiving any type of care or attention.

Many people think and spread the idea that going to therapy is useless. This It has spread mainly because of the social stigma associated with mental illness., the possible negative experiences of their own or others related to psychological therapy, the lack of knowledge about the functions of a psychologist and the unrealistic expectations that are intended to be achieved through the intervention psychological.

As we have mentioned, experiencing mental health disorders or problems is more common than we think, and these have a significant impact on the quality of life of the people involved. Psychological therapy, especially Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, has been shown to have a significant impact on people's quality of life; specifically for the treatment of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others.