Mental Health Misconceptions

“At the root of this dilemma is the way that we view mental health in this country. Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, or your brain, it’s still an illness and there should be no distinction,” Michelle Obama proclaimed (Holmes). On average, one in every four adults faces a mental illness every year and one in seventeen adults lives with a serious mental illness. It is vital for mental wellness to be treated just as seriously as physical wellness. The stigma on treatment of mental illness prompts many people to avoid seeking help when they need it. Many Americans have a distorted perception of mental illness due to its history, the way people view it, the lack of awareness, and the lack of knowledge of the statistics. The history

The statements from the article, “However, due to the fear of being stigmatized, these individuals often conceal their disorders from others. The #FightMHStigma campaign seeks to break through the stigma and misconceptions of mental health disorders and empower individuals to seek treatment,” explain the significance of starting a campaign to raise awareness for this growing epidemic (PR Newswire). In the article “Carrie Fisher Dead: Mental Health Legacy,” Time makes intelligible, “Many have credited [Carrie] Fisher’s openness with breaking down the stigma over mental health issues, and the topic was on the top of the minds of many of her admirers following her death.” This quote exhibits the effects of not seeking treatment for mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and depression. The difference between seeking treatment and not seeking treatment could mean the difference between life and death. Due to the life altering effects of not seeking help, the opinions of people judging those with a mental illness comes across as

In “Stigma as a Barrier to Mental Health Care,” Association for Psychological Science observes “Public stigma emerges when pervasive stereotypes- that people with mental illness are dangerous or unpredictable, for example- lead to prejudice against those who suffer from mental illness.” This quote proves the lack of knowledge on this topic that people have. A mental illness doesn’t necessarily make someone “dangerous” or “unpredictable”. This quote proves the lack of knowledge on this topic that people have. A mental illness doesn’t necessarily make someone “dangerous” or “unpredictable”. This quote describes the lack of understanding for mental illness because they treated the Veterans with opium rather than medication that would make these mental illnesses milder. With awareness raised for mental illnesses, it will eventually lower the number of mental illness due to people not hesitating to seek