Myths About Mental Illness

Myth: Psychiatric disorders are not real medical disorders like heart disease or diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just "crazy."

Fact: Mental illnesses are chronic medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes, except that they affect the neurobiology of the brain rather than other organs.

Myth: People with mental illnesses are all homeless, drug-addicted and unemployed.

Fact: Many people are able to manage their conditions and be successful, functioning members of their families and the community.

Myth: People with a mental illness can get over it if they just try harder.

Fact: Brain disorders, like any other chronic medical condition, are not the result of a character flaw. Fear of discrimination and disheartening stigma are obstacles to recovery and the primary reasons that people don't get treatment when they need it.

Myth: It will never happen to me or my family or friends.

Fact: Brain disorders are very common and are the leading cause of disability worldwide. 28%, or 1 in 4 people, suffer from some form of mental illness.