8 common myths about mental health

We team up with Rethink Mental Illness to dispel some of the more common and harmful mental health myths.

Unhappy African American woman sitting in bed
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A quarter of the population have experienced mental health problems in their lifetime, but there is still a distinct lack of understanding around the issues many face. Only 44 per cent of adults and less than 20 per cent of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive treatment.

Nia Charpentier from Rethink Mental Illness dispels some of the most common myths around mental illness that can have devastating effects on people's lives.

Myth: sadness is the same as depression

Everyone has ups and downs. Sometimes you might feel a bit low, or experience grief when you lose someone you love. People may say that they are depressed when they are feeling down, but this does not mean that they have depression.

Depression affects your ability to do everyday things.

Depression is a long-lasting low mood disorder. It affects your ability to do everyday things, feel pleasure or take interest in activities. It is a mental illness that is recognised around the world and affects about one in ten of us.

Myth: OCD is all about cleanliness

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an unwelcome thought or image that repeatedly enters your mind and is largely out of your control. There are different types of OCD, one of which does revolve around cleanliness and contamination, but it is by no means the only one. Other types include intrusive thoughts and hoarding.

By focussing exclusively on cleanliness, society can play down the very difficult reality of living with OCD, which can mean constant unwelcome thoughts and anxiety, and can be incredibly debilitating.

Myth: Only adults experience mental health problems

As many as 1 in 10 children and young people will experience a mental health issue and factors can include academic pressure, bullying and bereavement. It's crucial that they are able to access the right support and treatment. If we are able to treat mental illness early it can mean that problems don't snowball and reappear later in life.

1 in 10 children and young people will experience a mental health issue.

Over a quarter of young people are turned away from mental health services. While there are charities that focus specifically on helping young people, like Young Minds and Place2Be, more needs to be done in schools and in the home to make sure everyone gets the support they need.

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Myth: People with schizophrenia are violent

People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia are more likely to be a danger to themselves than other people. Unfortunately some people with the illness may become violent because of delusional beliefs or the use of drugs or alcohol. Because these incidents can be shocking, the media often report them in a way which emphasises the mental health aspects.

Only a small minority of people with schizophrenia become violent.

Only a small minority of people with the illness may become violent, much in the same way as a small minority of the general public may become violent. In fact, the majority of violent crimes and homicides are committed by people who do not have any mental health problems.

Myth: Weak minded people have mental health problems

One in four of us will experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives. Mental illness is not discriminatory, it can happen to anyone, and it is not a sign of weakness any more than a physical illness.


Myth: Mental illness is just an excuse for laziness

Mental illnesses are medically recognised conditions; they are not choices or excuses. When someone is experiencing depression, for example, they may feel unable to get out of bed or do everyday activities.

A bout of depression can have no identifiable cause.

This is not laziness, people with depression often desperately want to be able to get out and live their life but they are unable to do so because their symptoms are so severe.

Myth: There is a reason why you get depressed

Sometimes depression can be triggered by an event such as bereavement or traumatic experience, but not always. Different things can cause depression. Family history, upbringing, stressful events and your lifestyle can all have an effect. Sometimes a bout of depression can have no identifiable cause, but that doesn't make it any easier to cope with or recover from.

With an estimated 350 million people being affected by depression worldwide, it's not something you can just 'snap out' of. It can, however, be treated with interventions like talking therapies and medication.

Myth: Anxiety disorders mean you can't handle stress

We all experience occasional feelings of anxiety, worry and fear. These can be normal responses to certain situations. For example, you might worry about an upcoming interview for a job, or about being to pay a bill on time. If you are in a difficult or dangerous situation, these feelings can give you an awareness of the risks and what you need to do.

We all experience occasional feelings of anxiety, worry and fear.

However, if you have an anxiety disorder, these feelings are more frequent, severe and difficult to live with. They can make you feel as though things are far worse than they actually are. This can lead to you worrying all or most of the time and can affect your day to day life.

Mental health support

For help and support, try one of the following resources:

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