I want to focus on something that quietly causes a lot of harm—myths about mental disorders. These myths are ideas that many people believe to be true, yet they are not true. They are false beliefs that have been repeated for so long that they begin to sound like facts. Unfortunately, these myths deeply affect people living with mental health conditions, often more than the illness itself.
One common myth is the belief that mental disorders are rare. Many people think mental illness hardly happens, that it is something unusual or distant. The truth is very different. Mental disorders are very common. There are many people living with mental health conditions all around us. The reason we do not see them openly is not because they do not exist, but because many people do not seek treatment or support. Stigma pushes them underground. Fear keeps them silent. So mental illness appears rare, when in reality it is widespread.
Another strong belief is that people with mental disorders are dangerous. Some think they can attack anyone at any time. This belief creates fear and separation. The truth is that people with mental health conditions are normal people. They are calm, ordinary individuals living their lives like anyone else. They do not go around wanting to hurt others. Just like any human being, they may react if they are threatened, cornered, or mistreated. In the same way a person without a mental disorder can defend themselves when pushed too far, someone with a mental disorder can react under pressure. But this does not make them violent by nature.
There is also a belief that mental disorders only affect the poor or the uneducated. Some people think that if you are educated, wealthy, or successful, you are protected from mental illness. This is not true. Mental disorders affect everyone. They do not choose based on education, income, social status, or even skin color. They affect rich and poor, educated and uneducated, people in cities and villages alike. Mental illness is just like any other illness—it does not discriminate.
Another myth that causes fear is the belief that talking about suicide with a person with a mental health condition increases the chances that someone will commit it. Many people avoid the topic completely because they think asking about suicide puts the idea into someone’s mind. In reality, the opposite is true. When you talk openly about suicide with someone who is struggling, you reduce the risk. Asking direct questions gives the person a chance to express their pain. It makes them feel heard and supported. Silence increases danger. Conversation brings relief.
There is also the belief that people with mental disorders are lazy. Some think that these individuals could simply “try harder” or “pull themselves together.” This belief is deeply unfair. Mental disorders are not a lack of effort. They are medical conditions. Just as a person with cancer cannot decide to stop being sick, a person with a mental disorder cannot rescue themselves out of it. There is nothing they can do on their own to make it disappear. What they need is treatment, medication, and support.
Another myth is the belief that mental disorders are caused by someone’s behavior or lifestyle. This belief is especially strong in many African communities, where mental illness is often linked to witchcraft, curses, or punishment for how someone lived their life. This is wrong. Mental disorders are biological and medical conditions. They are caused by changes in brain chemistry and biology. They are not caused by sin, bad behavior, or moral failure. There is nothing someone did to deserve a mental disorder.
People also need to understand that mental disorders are not curable in the way some physical illnesses are. You do not simply cure them and move on. Mental health conditions are managed. Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms, maintaining stability, and improving quality of life through medication and support. Management does not mean hopelessness. It means learning how to live well with the condition, just as people do with diabetes or high blood pressure.
One common myth is the belief that mental disorders are rare. Many people think mental illness hardly happens, that it is something unusual or distant. The truth is very different. Mental disorders are very common. There are many people living with mental health conditions all around us. The reason we do not see them openly is not because they do not exist, but because many people do not seek treatment or support. Stigma pushes them underground. Fear keeps them silent. So mental illness appears rare, when in reality it is widespread.
Another strong belief is that people with mental disorders are dangerous. Some think they can attack anyone at any time. This belief creates fear and separation. The truth is that people with mental health conditions are normal people. They are calm, ordinary individuals living their lives like anyone else. They do not go around wanting to hurt others. Just like any human being, they may react if they are threatened, cornered, or mistreated. In the same way a person without a mental disorder can defend themselves when pushed too far, someone with a mental disorder can react under pressure. But this does not make them violent by nature.
There is also a belief that mental disorders only affect the poor or the uneducated. Some people think that if you are educated, wealthy, or successful, you are protected from mental illness. This is not true. Mental disorders affect everyone. They do not choose based on education, income, social status, or even skin color. They affect rich and poor, educated and uneducated, people in cities and villages alike. Mental illness is just like any other illness—it does not discriminate.
Another myth that causes fear is the belief that talking about suicide with a person with a mental health condition increases the chances that someone will commit it. Many people avoid the topic completely because they think asking about suicide puts the idea into someone’s mind. In reality, the opposite is true. When you talk openly about suicide with someone who is struggling, you reduce the risk. Asking direct questions gives the person a chance to express their pain. It makes them feel heard and supported. Silence increases danger. Conversation brings relief.
There is also the belief that people with mental disorders are lazy. Some think that these individuals could simply “try harder” or “pull themselves together.” This belief is deeply unfair. Mental disorders are not a lack of effort. They are medical conditions. Just as a person with cancer cannot decide to stop being sick, a person with a mental disorder cannot rescue themselves out of it. There is nothing they can do on their own to make it disappear. What they need is treatment, medication, and support.
Another myth is the belief that mental disorders are caused by someone’s behavior or lifestyle. This belief is especially strong in many African communities, where mental illness is often linked to witchcraft, curses, or punishment for how someone lived their life. This is wrong. Mental disorders are biological and medical conditions. They are caused by changes in brain chemistry and biology. They are not caused by sin, bad behavior, or moral failure. There is nothing someone did to deserve a mental disorder.
People also need to understand that mental disorders are not curable in the way some physical illnesses are. You do not simply cure them and move on. Mental health conditions are managed. Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms, maintaining stability, and improving quality of life through medication and support. Management does not mean hopelessness. It means learning how to live well with the condition, just as people do with diabetes or high blood pressure.
Because of these myths, many people suffer unnecessarily. Misunderstanding leads to fear. Fear leads to stigma. And stigma leads to silence. That is why minds must change. People must be willing to question what they have always believed and replace false ideas with truth.
