7 myths about psychic health
MYTH 1
If one has mental illness this means he or she is of poor intellect.
Fact: Mental illnesses just like physical ones could impact everyone no matter of intellect, social class or income level.
MYTH 2
You need to take care after your mental health only if you have mental illness.
Fact; Everyone could benefit from undertaking active steps in developing his or her well-being and improving his/her mental health. The same way everyone could undertake active steps and develop healthy habits in order to optimize his or her physical health.
MYTH 3
Poor mental health is not a serious issue to teenagers. They just have mood swings as a result of hormonal fluctuations and play dramas while looking for attention.
Fact: Oftentimes teenagers have mood changes yet this does not mean that youth have no problems with their mental health. Fourteen per cent of youth around the world have problems with their mental health. Globally, among children aged 10 – 15 suicide is the fifth most frequent death cause and in the case of youth aged 15 – 19 this is the fourth most frequent reason. Half of all the mental illnesses occur until turning 14.
MYTH 4
Nothing could be done to protect people from developing mental illnesses..
Fact: Many factors could prevent people from developing mental illnesses including strengthening social and emotional skills, looking for assistance and support at an early stage, development of loving, supportive, warm relations in the family, as well as positive school environment and healthy sleep patterns.
The ability to overcome life aversities depends on a combination of defence factors whereas neither environmental factors nor individual stress factors by themselves would result in issues with mental health for sure. Children and youth that cope well with life aversities usually have biological resilience, as well as strong, supportive relations with the family, friends and adults that surround them, and as a result – a combination of defence factors that support their well-being.
MYTH 5
Mental illness is a sign of weakness; should the human be stronger, he/she would have not suffered from such condition.
Fact: mental illnesses have nothing to do with weakness or lack of will. These are not conditions that people choose to have or not to have. Actually, confessing one needs help for his/her mental condition takes lots of bravery and strength. Everyone could develop mental illness.
MYTH 6
Youth who get good scores and have many friends, do not have problems with mental health because they have nothing to be depressed of.
Fact: Depression is frequent mental disease that results from the complex interaction between social, psychological and biological factors. Depression could impact everyone irrespective of his or her social-economic status or how nice his/her life seemingly is. Young people who cope well at school may feel pressure to achieve success that would result in anxiety or they may have problems at home.
Additionally, they may feel depression or anxiety with no reason whatsoever that could be easily identifiable.
MYTH 7
Poor parental cares result in mental diseases of youth.
Fact: Numerous factors – including poverty, unemployment, and exposure to violence, migration and other unfavourable circumstances and events – could impact well-being and psychic health of youth, the people who take care after them and their relations. Youth from loving and supporting families may suffer from problems with psychic health, as well as youth from families where there may be people who take care after them and need support in order to maintain optimal environment for the health development of the young person. With some assistance, the caregivers could play significant role in supporting youth to overcome all the issues they encounter.
Source: UNICEF
