Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, yet it still remains shrouded in myths and misconceptions that can prevent people from seeking the help they need.
These false beliefs—whether about the causes of mental illness, the effectiveness of therapy, or who might be affected—can perpetuate stigma and hinder progress toward better mental health for all.
This article unpacks five of the most common mental health myths, explaining why they’re inaccurate and offering insights to set the record straight.
By educating ourselves and challenging these misunderstandings, we can foster a more supportive, informed, and compassionate environment for everyone.
From the idea that mental health struggles signify weakness to the misconception that therapy doesn’t work, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to break down barriers and better support yourself and others.
Let’s tackle these myths and move toward a healthier, more open conversation about mental health.
5 Common Mental Health Myths to be Aware of
1. Mental health problems are a sign of weakness.
This is still, unfortunately, quite common in many cultures and contexts.
People are often encouraged to ‘toughen up.’ It has been believed that having mental health problems is because someone is weak. Because of this belief, seeing a mental health professional is considered a waste of money.
Mental health problems are illnesses and should be treated as such.
Just as you go and see a doctor when you are not feeling well, you should also see a professional if your mental state is not well.
2. You can’t prevent the development of mental health conditions.
While it’s not possible to stop any kind of mental health conditions, there are things we can do to prevent some of them from developing in the first place.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, there are three types of prevention that can help any of us, whether we currently have good mental health right now or not.
Primary prevention can help stop mental health issues before they even start.
This type focuses on educating people and even whole communities about the practices of good mental health, spreading awareness early on and encouraging talking about emotions, for example.
Secondary prevention supports those who are at higher risk of developing mental health issues.
This can include:
- those who have dealt with trauma
- people with long-term physical health problems
- groups more likely to be bullied, such as LGBTQIA+ people
They could be more likely to develop issues due to circumstances they’ve experienced or characteristics they were born with.
Tertiary prevention aims to help people struggling with mental ill-health.
The goal here is to reduce their symptoms, keeping their quality of life and empower them to manage their own well-being.
Taking preventative measures in each of these cases will look different, but generally, these are some good practices to follow to take care of your mental health:
- Talking about your feelings
- Sleeping and eating well
- Staying active
- Practicing mindfulness
- Having a good support system
- Talking to a therapist, doctor or counsellor
- Educating yourself on any conditions you may have
There are many factors that influence our mental health, such as our families and relationships, where we work and live and our education. Biology does influence our mental health to a point, but so do the environments we operate in and the experiences we have.
Seeking help in the early stages, having supportive relationships, and taking care of our physical health can significantly reduce one’s chances of developing mental health conditions.
3. Only people who had rough childhoods can have mental health conditions.
There is a widespread, yet inaccurate belief that only people who had rough childhoods can have mental health conditions.
A rough childhood and some unresolved traumas stemming from there can definitely increase the chances of mental health conditions in an individual. But, that does not mean that those who had a ‘good’ childhood will never have to experience these conditions.
There are several intertwined factors that can cause mental health issues such as:
- unemployment
- exposure to violence or traumatic events
- hormonal imbalances
- stress
- social isolation
Despite what your childhood looked like, anyone can experience mental illnesses. That is why it is important for everyone to ensure that they have the help and support they need to overcome problems before they escalate.
4. You don’t need therapy if you have friends.
I’ve heard so many people saying they will never consider therapy because they have family and friends who are happy to listen and provide advice when needed.
Not only is this belief unfair to the said friends, but it also disadvantages the individual who will be in need of professional help.
Substituting a therapist with a friend means that friend has to listen to all your problems and risk trauma dumping, which can be exhausting to the listener.
Having friends that give you helpful advice is important. But remember, they are not professional mental health workers so you shouldn’t treat them as such. When there is a need, consider talking to someone who is licensed and properly trained to help people deal with psychological issues.
5. Therapy does not work.
Due to the misunderstanding around how therapy works, some people are convinced that the intervention does not work. Perhaps we’re used to the idea that pharmaceutical medications seem to make the pain instantly go away; we expect the same from therapy.
Just because therapy doesn’t grant us an immediate remedy doesn’t mean that it doesn’t work.
Studies have found that talk therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Interpersonal Therapy are effective in treating mental health conditions.
Further studies have also confirmed that when used in combination with medication, these interventions are even more effective.
Educate Yourself About Mental Health
Awareness is a great step towards accepting and creating an environment that fosters a good mental health well-being.
As you can probably tell, there is an element of truth in most of these myths. However, that truth is muddled up with some inaccurate facts. We all have the responsibility of educating ourselves and those close to us.
The myths, misconceptions, misunderstandings and stereotypes that exist around mental illness foster discrimination, judgment and isolation.
Mental health conditions are more common than most people realize.
Thankfully, treatment is also widely available. Websites such as Good Therapy and DoMental make it easier for you to receive therapy from the comfort of your home.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Nov 8, 2022 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Photo by Anete Lusina
