COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS AND FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
BY
UGBALI AUGUSTINE
I have no right by anything I do or say to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself. To undermine a mans self respect is a sin. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Misconception simply means a belief, a wrong idea about something or an event.
Mental illness is an illness of the mind. People with a mental illness may behave in strange ways or have strange thoughts in their view or the view of others.
People with a mental illness sometimes have problems dealing with other people, or living what is called “a normal life”. Treatment and certain medications can help people with certain mental illnesses live a better life.
People with mental illness are decent people. They deserve respect like anyone else. Yet sigma, caused by a lack of understanding and knowledge, rears its ugly head and chips away at the persons sense of self, making them feel isolated and ashamed. People who have no knowledge of mental illness need to be receptive to information so they can grow up and get over their false attitudes that are pervasive and damaging to the fragile self esteem of someone with a mental illness.

MYTH#1: "People who need psychiatric care should be locked away in institutions."
FACT: Today, most people can live productive lives within their communities thanks to a variety of supports, programs, and/or medications.

MYTH#2: "A person who has had a mental illness can never be normal."
FACT: People with mental illnesses can, and do, recover to resume normal activities. For example, Kay Redfield Jamieson, who has bipolar disorder, has received treatment and is today Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She has written extensively on mood disorders and manic depressive illnesses.

MYTH#3: "People with mental illnesses can work low-level jobs but aren't suited for really important or responsible positions."
FACT: People with mental illnesses, like everyone else, have the potential to work at any level depending on their own abilities, experience and motivation.

MYTH#4: "Mentally ill persons are dangerous."
FACT: The vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent. In cases when violence does occur, the incident typically results from the same reasons as with the general public, such as feeling threatened or excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs.

MYTH#5: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just crazy. Or are being punished by the gods for their deeds
FACT: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.

MYTH#6: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.
FACT: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause. No one is to blame.

MYTH#7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.
FACT: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses which can lead to a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment.

MYTH#8: If you have a mental illness, it will go away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way failed or is weak.
FACT: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away. It takes courage to seek professional help.

HOW YOU CAN COMBAT STIGMA
>Share your experience with mental illness. Your story can convey to others that having a mental illness is nothing to be embarrassed about.
>Help people with mental illness re-enter society. Support their efforts to obtain housing, food and jobs.

>Respond to false statements about mental illness or people with mental illness. Many people have wrong and damaging ideas on the subject. Accurate facts and information may help change both their ideas and actions.
With a little knowledge about mental illness, one might be willing to extend a hand, give a smile of recognition and rekindle the inner light of self respect in a fellow human being.
We need each other. There is hope!!!!!.