Mental Health- Myths VS Facts

In our world, there is a certain stigma around the phrase mental health. Some people paint this term in a negative light causing less conversations surrounding necessary topics such as anxiety, self-care, and depression. It is time that we as people debunk the stigma surrounding mental health: we are all humans with very human problems. Life is not always perfect, and along with life’s imperfections comes ramifications to our mental well-being. So in this article, let's address some common misconceptions about mental health with some real facts that counter these false claims.

1. Mental Health difficulties being seen as a weaknessSome people make the extremely false assumption that mental health difficulties are seen as a weakness and should therefore not be talked about. This causes people to cage in their emotions which, on the contrary to out-dated assumptions, is extremely unhealthy. When stress, anxieties, or sadness build up there can be actual, physical consequences to your body such as a racing heart, increased sweating, or headaches.

2. Idea that struggles with mental health are rareThis assumption is yet again completely false. Although some may find it hard to believe, many people struggle with difficulties involving mental health worldwide. These difficulties all range from differing extremes meaning some mental challenges may not be as severe as others. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2019 1 in every 8 people globally were living with a mental disorder, anxiety and depressive orders being the most common.

3. Therapy is a waste of timeIn many communities, there is strong opposition to therapy as it is thought to be unhelpful and a waste of time; however, this could be further from the truth. Therapy is an excellent way to process your feelings with an unbiased figure in order to receive advice or even just to vent. Sometimes, it just feels good to get things off your chest. Going to therapy does not make you weak; we as people have so much going on in our lives which can be too much to digest alone.

In closing, it is vital that we recognize the misconceptions regarding mental health as this false information can be damaging, furthering the stigma surrounding mental health when we as a society should really be trying to break it.

-Kamari Carter