NARSAD (the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and FACT: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. …
Misconceptions about Mental Illness —Pervasive and Damaging
NARSAD conducts nationwide survey to determine leading myths
Misconceptions about mental illness are pervasive and the lack of
understanding can have serious consequences for millions of people who have
a psychiatric illness NARSAD the National Alliance for Research in
Schizophrenia and Depression conducted a nationwide survey of mental
health professionals to determine the most common myths 102 responses were
received from the experts, who included members of NARSADs Scientific
Council and psychiatrists around the country
Misconceptions about mental illness contribute to the stigma, which leads
many people to be ashamed and prevents them from seeking help, said
Constance Leiber, NARSAD President Dispelling these myths is a powerful
step toward eradicating the stigma and allaying the fears surrounding brain
disorders
MYTH 1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart
disease and diabetes People who have a mental illness are just crazy
FACT: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate
medical illnesses
Research shows there are genetic and biological causes
for psychiatric disorders and they can be treated effectively
MYTH 2: People with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are
usually dangerous and violent
FACT: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a
brain disorder is not much higher than in the general population Those
suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened,
confused and despairing than violent
MYTH 3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting
FACT: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other
risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder In other words, mental
illnesses have a physical cause
MYTH 4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw,
and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard
enough
FACT: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak It results from
changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or
psychotherapy often help people to recover
MYTH 5: Schizophrenia means split personality and there is no way to
control it
FACT: Schizophrenia is
often confused with multiple personality disorder
Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their
ability to think clearly and logically The estimated 25 million Americans
with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to
hallucinations and delusions Medication has helped many of these
individuals to lead fulfilling productive lives
MYTH 6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process
FACT: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed Signs of
depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep
disturbances and lethargy Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed,
and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the
problem and seek professional help
MYTH 7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not
affect children or adolescents Any problems they have are just a part of
growing up
FACT: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses In the
United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder
severe enough to cause impairment However, only about 20 percent of
these
children receive needed treatment Left untreated, these problems get
worse Anyone talking about suicide should be taken seriously
MYTH 8: If you have a mental illness, it will go away Being treated for a
psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way failed or is
weak
FACT: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away Ignoring the problem
does not make it go away, either It takes courage to seek professional
help
MYTH 9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of will power
People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or bad
FACT: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain
chemistry It has nothing to do with being a bad person
MYTH 10: Electro-convulsive therapy ECT formerly known as shock
treatment, is painful and barbaric
FACT: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who have severe and
debilitating depression It is used when other treatments such as
psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used Patients who receive
ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything
From NARSAD Research Newsletter, Volume 13, Issue 4, Winter
2001/2002, Page
28
Source:ccs.neu.edu
