The underlying truth about mental illnesses in India is that, one per cent of the total population suffers from serious bouts of mental disorders and five to ten per cent suffer from moderate mental disorders.
(Mental illness myths decoded…)
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According to government statistics, 20 per cent of Indians may have used psychiatrist counselling at some point in their lives. Developing countries have known to neglect mental illnesses due to a number of prejudices and stereotypes associated with it. People often misunderstand mental illness for plain insanity. This gives rise to numerous myths about it that may not be true. In this article, we highlight these myths and decode the truth behind them.
(Mental illness myths decoded…)
****************************************************
According to government statistics, 20 per cent of Indians may have used psychiatrist counselling at some point in their lives. Developing countries have known to neglect mental illnesses due to a number of prejudices and stereotypes associated with it. People often misunderstand mental illness for plain insanity. This gives rise to numerous myths about it that may not be true. In this article, we highlight these myths and decode the truth behind them.
People with mental illness are violent
People suffering from a mental illness are perceived to be violent. Most people tend to fear for their safety around these people because they are afraid that those people could get violent and hurt them. But research states that there are less than three per cent of patients who can get violent and only if they neglect to take their medication.
People with mental illness should be kept in hospital
A lot of research shows that letting the mentally ill reside and integrate with society could prove to be a better environment for their healing than keeping them locked away in a psychiatry hospital.
People with mental illness can never be healed
It is important to understand that there are many kinds of mental illnesses. Depression, anxiety and OCD are a few that are less serious. In such cases efficient therapies and medication can heal them. But there are a few chronic illnesses, which are lifelong but can be controlled if not healed, through medication, therapy and patience.
People with mental illness are retarded
This is the most common and offensive stereotype about people with mental disorders. Mental retardation is an actual learning disability and is caused by significant impairment of cognitive functions and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviours. Mental retardation appears in kids before they reach adulthood, whereas a mental illness can strike anybody. It is not related to an intellectual disability and therefore, a person suffering from a mental illness is not mentally retarded.
People with mental illness cannot work
This is another myth; the truth is that such people could benefit from working. They can use their focus and energy on something else rather than worry about their disorder. At work, they can be just as productive as other employees. In fact employers who hire them say that they have good attendance and are punctual. Working can help boost their self esteem and also help them support themselves.
Source : TOI , 9th Decemebr 2013
People suffering from a mental illness are perceived to be violent. Most people tend to fear for their safety around these people because they are afraid that those people could get violent and hurt them. But research states that there are less than three per cent of patients who can get violent and only if they neglect to take their medication.
People with mental illness should be kept in hospital
A lot of research shows that letting the mentally ill reside and integrate with society could prove to be a better environment for their healing than keeping them locked away in a psychiatry hospital.
People with mental illness can never be healed
It is important to understand that there are many kinds of mental illnesses. Depression, anxiety and OCD are a few that are less serious. In such cases efficient therapies and medication can heal them. But there are a few chronic illnesses, which are lifelong but can be controlled if not healed, through medication, therapy and patience.
People with mental illness are retarded
This is the most common and offensive stereotype about people with mental disorders. Mental retardation is an actual learning disability and is caused by significant impairment of cognitive functions and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviours. Mental retardation appears in kids before they reach adulthood, whereas a mental illness can strike anybody. It is not related to an intellectual disability and therefore, a person suffering from a mental illness is not mentally retarded.
People with mental illness cannot work
This is another myth; the truth is that such people could benefit from working. They can use their focus and energy on something else rather than worry about their disorder. At work, they can be just as productive as other employees. In fact employers who hire them say that they have good attendance and are punctual. Working can help boost their self esteem and also help them support themselves.
Source : TOI , 9th Decemebr 2013
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