Beliefs about mental illness have been characterized by superstition, ignorance and fear. Although time and advances in scientific understanding of mental illness have dispelled many false ideas, there remain a number of popular misconceptions.

1. MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT
MENTAL ILLNESS
PRESENTED BY:
MS. MONIKA KANWAR
NURSING TUTOR
M.Sc. (N) MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

2. INTRODUCTION
• Beliefs about mental illness have been characterized by
superstition, ignorance and fear. Although time and advances
in scientific understanding of mental illness have dispelled
many false ideas, there remain a number of popular
misconceptions.

3. MEANING
• MYTHS: Myths are stories that are used to explain what we
do not know, and contribute strongly to stigma against people
who have a mental illness.
• “Myth busting” may help decrease stigma.

4. CONTD….
1. Mental illness is unusual
FACT: Many mental health conditions such as anxiety
disorders, depression etc. are in fact called common mental
disorder. Rather it is quite common.

5. CONTD….
2. Mental illness is caused by supernatural power and is the
result of a curse or possession by evil spirit
FACT: Many people do not consider mental illness as an
illness, but possession by spirits or curse that has bef allen on
the patient or family because of past sins or misdeeds in
previous life.

6. CONTD….
3. Mental illness do not happen to individual who are strong
FACT: Mental health problem can occur to anybody, including
those who are seen as strong or weak as it depends upon
multiple and complex mix of biological and psychological
factors.

7. CONTD….
4. Mentally ill people show bizarre behavior
FACT: Patients in mental hospitals and clinics are often
picturized as a weird lot, who spend their time exhibiting
useless bizarre behavior like twisting of hands, etc.

8. CONTD….
5. Mentally ill people are dangerous
FACT: Vast majority of people with a mental illness are not
violent. In cases when violence does occur, the incident
typically results from the same reasons as with general public,
such as feeling threatened or excessive use of alcohol and/or
drugs.

9. CONTD….
6. Mental illness is something to be ashamed of
FACT: This idea arouses an unsympathetic, cruel attitude
towards a mentally ill person. This is the reason why many
people hide mental illness in the family.

10. CONTD….
7. Mental illness is not curable
FACT: People object to have normal relationship with mentally
ill people, or to give them employment even after being cured,
or even to accept them as neighbors.

11. CONTD….
8. Mental illness is contagious:
FACT: The fear that it is contagious is the main false notion
which leads people to view suspiciously, or object to marital
relations with a person belonging to the household of the
mentally ill.

12. CONTD….
9. Mental illness is hereditary:
FACT: It is not a rule that children of mentally ill patients
should become mentally ill.

13. CONTD….
10. Marriage can cure mental illness:
FACT: A mentally ill person can get worse if he gets married
when he is ill, as marriage can become an additional stress. A
patient who has recovered can get married and live a normal
life like any other person.

14. CONTD….
11. Mental hospitals are places where only dangerous
mentally ill individuals are treated and restraint is a
major form of treatment:
FACT: People hesitate to take their relatives to mental hospitals
for treatment because of fear. Further, as ex-patient of a mental
hospital, he, as well as his family members are often isolated.
Therefore, people seek help from mental hospitals only as a last
resort.

15. CONTD….
12. People with mental illness can work low-level jobs but
aren’t suited for really important or responsible positions:
FACT: People with mental illnesses, like everyone else, have
the potential to work at any level depending on their own
abilities, experiences and motivation.

16. CONTD….
13. Mental illnesses are caused by the usual stresses of life
FACT: Everyday life stresses are normal and necessary for
learning and developing life skills. They do not causes mental
illness. For some people, severe and persistent stress increases
the risk for developing a mental illness.

17. CONTD….
14. When the mentally ill attempt suicide, it is a cry for help:
FACT: People suffering from mental illness will become
suicidal only if their earlier, actual cries for help were not
noticed, acknowledged or taken seriously. Failed suicide
attempts by mentally ill are a sign that urgent and immediate
intervention is required, but the best course of action is to
respond to the initial cries for help at the time they occur.

18. CONTD….
15. Mental health treatments are about just medication that
make individual dull, drowsy and dependent
FACT: Psychiatric medication are meant to target the
symptoms of the conditions. Though some medications may
have side effects such as excessive drowsiness, many new
medication may have minimal side effects. Most of them do
not have potential for addiction. Also, there are multiple
treatments available, including a wide range of psychological
treatment for different conditions.

19. CONTD….
16. If someone has a mental illness, they cannot live a
normal, productive life
FACT: In spite of the suffering, many individual with mental
illness can live a productive and satisfying life as there are
effective treatment approaches available to manage a variety of
mental health conditions.

20. CONTD….
17. Mental illness is a sign of personal weakness
FACT: Mental illnesses are not a condition that people to
choose to have or not have. Mental illness is a brain disorder
and not a personal weakness.

21. CONTD….

22. CONTD….