Busting Mental Health Myths
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! What a great opportunity to take time to reflect on our own mental well-being and encourage others to do the same. One way this can be done is to educate others about common misconceptions about mental health. As discussed in previous blog posts, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental health. While it is being talked about more and more in society, many myths still surface, resulting in false information being spread. Here’s a few misconceptions, along with their truths, that we can share with others:
“Mental health issues don’t impact that many people'' - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that about 1 in 4 people will be impacted by a mental disorder at some point in their lives. In fact, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) explained that in 2020, about 1 in 5 adults in America experienced a mental health condition, 1 in 6 young Americans experienced a depressive episode, and 1 in 20 Americans lived with a serious mental illness. Mental health challenges affect more people than you may think!
“Children and adolescents don’t experience mental health issues” - Children are not immune to mental health struggles. Many factors can lead to these challenges, whether it be poverty, unemployment, exposure to violence, relocation, pressure of expectations, bullying, and/or other circumstances. Even those in supportive households and those that “seem fine” can still struggle with mental health. SAMHSA reports that half of all mental health disorders show first signs before the age of 14! Yet only half of the children and adolescents with diagnosable conditions receive necessary treatment. Taking action to get support early on in a child’s life is crucial to prevent impact on other developmental needs.
“People with friends don’t need a therapist” - While friends can be a great support system, they are not qualified or trained to effectively assist with mental health concerns. Of course, it’s great to have a close friend to speak with in times of struggle to let out frustrations. However in therapy, the time is solely dedicated to the client’s issues. In a typical friendship, both partners equally spend time sharing parts of their life. Therapy, on the other hand, is confidential and objective, and it is often quite beneficial for clients to receive an outside point of view of their situation. Still, friends can be a great source of help when it comes to accessing mental health services, like searching for a therapist or providing phone numbers to crisis text/hotlines.
These are just some of the myths often assumed regarding mental health. What others have you heard? Remember to take some time to care for yourself and try to check in with someone you haven’t heard from in a while! Mental Health Awareness doesn’t just have to be recognized for the month of May; it can be taken into consideration year round.
-Written by Kristen Aufiero, Clinical Counseling Intern