Education and understanding are vital to helping empower people with mental illness. We’re dispelling some of the common myths about mental health.
MYTH: Mental illness only affects a few people.
FACT: According to SANE Australia, around 20% of adults are affected by some form of mental illness every year. 3 million Australians are living with depression or anxiety.
MYTH: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up.
FACT: Children and adolescents can develop mental illnesses. Depression is one of the most common conditions in young people and increases during adolescence.
MYTH: Depressed people are just lazy or weak. They need to pull themselves together and stop feeling sorry for themselves.
FACT: When people are clinically depressed, they can’t ‘snap out of’ it anymore than they can ‘snap out of’ an ulcer or diabetes. Although we don’t know the exact cause of clinical depression, we do know it is a medical illness with biological components. We also know that genetics and certain brain chemicals play a part. In short, we know enough to treat it effectively. Source: West Virginia University
MYTH: Some people are just worrywarts, and there is nothing that can really make any difference.
FACT: Therapy can help you reduce worry and suffering and learn a different relationship to your own thoughts, regardless of your temperament and how long neurotic habits have been in your life. Source: The Anxiety and Depression Association of America
MYTH: People with mental illness are violent.
FACT: People with a mental illness are no more violent or dangerous than the rest of the population. People with a mental illness are more likely to harm themselves – or to be harmed – than they are to hurt other people.
Mental health support
At EPIC Assist, we understand that a holistic approach helps our job seekers to achieve their employment goals. We provide mental health support tailored to the individual needs of our job seekers.
Helplines:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800