Misinformation & Stereotypes
Common stereotype: "People with mental illnesses are dangerous."
The truth: Most people with mental health conditions or issues are not violent, and can more often be the victims than abusers. Few are violent or dangerous, and the best decisions for them is to either recieve help, or communicate with their loved ones (in less severe cases) about what they need and what to do if they lose control.
How this can be harmful: This stereotype causes fear around mental conditions, and can make it incredibly hard for those suffering to seek help. This can also hurt diagnosed people, making them fear talking out about it or feel like they're a danger to society.
Common stereotype: "Mental illness is a sign of weakness."
The truth: People cannot just "grow up," "snap out of it," or "get over it." Mental health conditions are not so simple, and definitely not as simple as common everyday emotions. Another thing to note is that many mental health conditions are real medical condtitions, with chemicals in the brain (such as serotonin) being imbalanced or working differently than for neurotypicals. A good piece of advice is to look at brain scans of those afflicted with things like bipolar, depression, anxiety, and autism.
How this can be harmful: Pushing the stereotype that people can just "get over" their mental health conditions, or that they're neurotypical and "sensitive," can seriously harm everyone. It diminishes experiences, ignores proven science, and spreads shame and guilt.
Common stereotype: "Medication works for everybody."
The truth: Medications are tricky business. Like for those with ADHD (Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity-Disorder), there are many medications, likely hundreds if not more, some with intense side effects and others that simply do nothing for some people. Everyone is different, and everyone's brain works better on some medications than others. And some simply do not want medication, having lived with their condition for so long that medication makes functioning harder. Some don't take medication because of personal reasons or beliefs as well. And even then, for some who are on medications, the most it does is help manage the symptoms, and they might still struggle and need assistance outside of medications.
How this can be harmful: Forcing somebody to be on medication, or implying that they "should be fine" because they're medicated is extremely harmful to both parties. Mental health treatment takes so much more than just medication, and some people simply do not want medication, so seeing it as a "fix all" solution covers up those who still need assistance or don't want to be medicated.
Common stereotype: "Children and teens don't have real mental health problems."
The truth: Brain chemistry doesn't just "not exist" for those who are children or teenagers. And younger peoples' brains are more fragile, due to not reaching yet full maturity, meaning they are often more severely affected by things like trauma and past experiences. Most mental conditions that are gained (not genetic, though sometimes more likely due to genetics), are gained during that period of time between young childhood and early adulthood.
How this can be harmful: This opinion dismisses young peoples' experiences, and often discourages them from reaching out even into adulthood. This also perpetuates the ideas that children are "lesser" and don't deserve the same respect as adults.
