Stigma
Negative attitudes about individuals with psychiatric conditions are unfortunately commonplace. The experience of this stigma — on individual and structural levels — adds another layer of suffering on top of the conditions themselves. Stigma towards people with psychiatric conditions is a serious barrier to diagnosis and treatment, often with devastating consequences. Challenging common misconceptions and stereotypes, and ensuring that our use of language is respectful will encourage individuals to seek help and access the treatment that they deserve.
Misconception:
Mental health problems are not real problems like cancer, arthritis or diabetes
Truth:
Psychiatric conditions are medical conditions that are experienced by 1 in 3 of us at some point in our lives. They are more severe and persistent than temporary emotions.
Misconception:
Mental health problems are caused by one specific thing (e.g., bad parenting, society, one gene, etc.)
Truth:
Psychiatric conditions are influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental risk factors. They cannot (and should not) be blamed on one factor. Psychiatric conditions can run in families, but families share both genetics and the environment, and thus, disentangling the causes is complex. Importantly, this does not mean parents are to blame. The causes of mental health illness are very complicated. There is no single gene for depression, anxiety, or any other common mental health problem. Rather, they are affected by a combination of thousands of genetic variants, each with small effects, along with environmental factors. Genetic and environmental factors also affect how we cope with traumatic events or stress. Some people have a genetic background that makes them more resilient to major traumatic events, such as life-threatening accidents or the loss of a loved one. Others have genetic and environmental risk factors that make them more vulnerable to trauma.
Misconception:
Mental health illness is a sign of personal weakness.
Truth:
Living day to day with a psychiatric condition involves tremendous resilience and strength, so it should never be viewed as a sign of weakness. It also takes real strength to recognize one needs treatment and to seek it out.
Misconception:
Psychiatric conditions are something you will be stuck with for life
Truth:
Help is available, and many people do recover. For example, about 60% of people with anxiety disorders do well with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and 73% of them stay well in the long term (Kodal et al.).