Mental Health Myths: Misconceptions and the Facts

After spending some time in the Seychelles, I have come to realize that there is a misconception surrounding people with mental health disorders. Terminology used to describe people diagnosed with a disorder can be cruel and uneducated.

From a personal perspective, I grew up in a household where mental health was openly discussed. Close family members are both health care professionals dealing with mental health patients, and there is also a history of mental health problems within my family. After seeing the effects of poor mental health from a first-hand perspective I decided I wanted to contribute to people’s recovery and am now training to be a qualified Psychologist.

For those who are less familiar with mental health disorders, it is recognized that problems of the mind stem from two major factors. One being a person’s biological make-up; their genes and hormones. The other being life experiences i.e. going through a trauma. These two things interact and can often result in some form of mental disorder; most commonly depression. When we get into an accident and break a bone (physical health problem), we go to a clinic and seek treatment. Unfortunately, for a lot of people this logic doesn’t seem to apply when there is a mental health problem.

Yet, from what I have witnessed this has been drastically changing in the Western world. The conversation regarding our mental health is much louder, with many people coming forward and asking for help. The number of young people seeking a career in clinical psychology is overwhelmingly large. Feelings of shame and guilt for suffering with a condition is lessening. We don’t feel ashamed when our physical body is faulting, why should we when our mind does? However, since being in the Seychelles and discussing this topic with members of the public and health care professionals, this subject is a taboo. Considering suicide prevention events being this time of year, I want to encourage people to talk to one another about how they are feeling. According to the World Health Organization, around 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Some mental health disorders can kill, this is usually when the person feels they have lost all options (which is never the case) and we must try and prevent it. It is important to listen, offer someone the chance to speak freely without fear of judgement.

If you feel that someone may need some assistance, then encourage them to visit a professional.

People don’t want to be judged, as human beings we want society to accept us and to feel ‘normal’. However, as I previously mentioned, mental health disorders stem from both how your body works and things that may have happened in your life. People with mental health disorders are not to feel ashamed for what they are experiencing. One in four individuals WILL experience a mental disorder at some point in their lives. People from all walks of life can have a mental health problem, the same way they can have a physical problem.

Do not let shame dissuade you from speaking with someone. Speaking with someone and getting the right help will change your life for the better. I would like to share words from someone in recovery from mental illness:

“I have had psychotic episodes a few times…the last time I was ill was the worst relapse I’d ever had. I felt so distant from my normal self… I lost the love I had for my family and that was the worst thing for me to cope with. I felt like I was in a bubble and every minute felt like an hour. I was pregnant at the time; my baby was born, and I didn’t feel any love for him. I wanted to die, but I wanted him to live. I went into auto pilot; I took care of him, but I didn’t love anyone"

I decided to contact the first doctor I saw who had diagnosed me with bipolar, I trusted him, I felt he was the person who could get me well. He came to our house and conducted a 2-hour assessment. He advised me to try a new medication and created a treatment plan. 3 months later, he was right, it was like a light switch! The old me was back! I felt myself again and have for years now”.

It is possible to recover from bad periods of mental health problems. People diagnosed with a disorder are not just that disorder, the disorder is just a small part of the whole person. It is important to be kind and compassionate towards those who are vulnerable. A fulfilled life can be achieved with help and support, but people need to recognize that it is okay to be having difficulties and it is okay to ask for help. Some mental health problems can kill without proper attention.

#MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention