Common Mental Health Misconceptions

Mental Health is a term that often gets abused or misconstrued by those who are unfamiliar with the topic. Many times the phrase mental health gets viewed in its most extreme as someone who has schizophrenia or someone who has committed a heinous crime. Yet, mental health is a bit broader and all-encompassing than someone who is extremely mentally ill. It refers to the overall wellbeing of your mind and emotions. Here are some of the common misconceptions about mental health.

4 - You are either sick or healthy

Many view mental health as a black and white topic, when it is not. Mental health should be viewed as a spectrum. You can have some smaller issues while not being completely unstable. For example, like physical health,  high cholesterol or an ear infection are problems that can be managed. The same idea applies to mental health. Many individuals have periods when their mental health may not be at its best.

3 - Mental health is violent

This is one stereotype that the media has perpetuated. Mental health normally only gets reported on during a mass shooting or during a celebrity meltdown. This puts mental health in a dark, scary light in the public eye. Most people with mental health problems are not violent. The American Psychological Association reports that only 7.5 percent of crimes are directly correlated to mental health symptoms. Many reasons as to why people carry out violent acts is due to poverty to substance abuse.

2 - Children do not experience mental health issues

It is not a taboo thought that a child can display early warning signs of mental health concerns. Half of all mental health disorders can show signs before an individual turns 14 years old. As well, 75 percent of mental health disorders start showing symptoms before the age of 24. The sad truth is that many mental health issues are not diagnosed and treated when the begin in adolescents.

1 - I am immune to mental health problems

Many believe that if there is no previous family diagnosis to mental health problems, that you are immune from mental health problems. The truth is one in five American adults experience a mental health problem at some point during their lifetime.