Mental health is one of the most misinterpreted, controversial, sensitive, dark, and scary topics for most people. And it shouldn’t be! Mental health is such a huge part of our lives. Like love, and work, and physical health, and learning. Let’s normalize the way we talk about this and establish the truth. After all, the reality is, we do know more than we used to. Over history, an amazing number of doctors, young people, parents, lovers and friends have come to develop ideas about mental health. Let’s talk about some things you might have heard, and might believe, and bust them once and for all!

Mental illness is just weakness.

We’ve all heard it. Masculinity, being an adult, grow up. But mental illness, much like physical illness, is not a matter of weakness. Do we scorn the footy player with the broken leg? He found his injury out on the field of battle. Many of us pick up scars, spiritual and mental, from things out there, and those scars run deep. It is not our place to judge.

You shouldn’t have a mental illness if life’s going well.

We all know that kid at school who seemed to have the good grades, plenty of friends, relationships, popularity, maybe even a nice car… and this is no reason, not for one second, to believe that they are exempt from the possibility of mental illness. You may find that person was not nearly as “confident” or “satisfied” as you thought! In fact, it is a condition like depression that affects someone’s ability to see the success in their own lives. Make no assumptions. You never know what strange and scary worlds are happening in someone else’s mind. If you have the strength and the time is right, find your voice and be there for them.

You can fix things with drugs and alcohol…

Ok, no parent is saying this is the right way to go about it. (Although some might behave that way, and that is no reason to be the same.) But many young people, if you look around you, seem to believe this, or at least believe that it works for them. They drink when things are stressful. You find cigarettes, marijuana, and other things turn up when the conversation turns depressive. The reality is, these are short fixes, and you don’t want to be the young person that finds this out firsthand. It’s been shown time and time again! Just look around. Do you really see these things doing a world of good for users? All they seem to do is run you into the ground over time. Let’s have an honest conversation about this, help each other, and look for life’s treasures that reveal to you the strong feeling inside.

More Myths

More myths to kill. For the daring and the curious!

Teenagers are just moody, mental illness is for adults

This one’s for the parents too. Ok, we all know the stereotype, and there’s no doubt it’s true to an extent. Teenagers have hormonal fluctuations and you may find yourself in your room yelling lyrics one day, crying in your pillow on the next. Or losing your temper with your folks! Although it is not ideal, it is normal, and you will quickly improve at regulating your mood. However, none of this should close the possibility in your mind you or someone you know may suffer from mental illness. Fourteen per cent of Australian teens experience a mental disorder.1 A dark thing like depression may be cloaked by teenage chaos.

People with mental illness are scary and violent

You think mental illness, and you think of asylums from Victorian England, or straitjackets, or violent killers… forget about it! Mental illness affects mostly productive and loving people around the world, and some of them you may know. It is exceedingly rare for those with a mental disorder to wander around violent and unhinged. There is little relationship between mental illness and violence, except when substance use is involved.2 Take a look around you. You are not different if you are mentally ill. You benefit at this time from guidance, and you will lead others to better things too!

There’s no chance at getting better

Utterly false. This idea more resembles a depressed thought than a scientific fact. You, or someone you know, can and will find strength! The road may have bumps, but it is heartening to know it is leading somewhere better. Reveal the strength inside of you! You really can do this. The proof you desire is well, all around you. Humans you know live through and enjoy life despite serious spiritual scars all the time. Your ability to find yourself is remarkable. And they’re willing to lend a hand! Young people do it too. At times you may forget. But take a step, remind yourself of light. Let’s find the light you are heading toward!

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/mental-illness

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mental-illness-and-violence