Myth: Getting over disorders such as depression and anxiety is a matter of willpower.
Fact: Psychiatric disorders are legitimate medical illnesses, just like heart disease or cancer. Most experts agree such disorders have physical causes, and the symptoms are caused by chemical changes in the brain.
Myth: Mentally ill people are dangerous.
Fact: Most mental patients are not violent. In fact, those undergoing treatment are no more likely to be violent than anyone else. However, other conditions such as alcoholism, drug abuse and having been a victim of child abuse increase the risk of violence.
Myth: Mental illness should be hidden as it cannot be treated.
Fact: Even serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia can be treated with professional help and medicine. As with many illnesses, the earlier it is spotted and treated, the better the chances of recovery.
Myth: Children do not get mental illnesses.
Fact: Mental problems affect one in eight children aged six to 12 here. They affect one in four adults. And among those aged 60 and above, 5.6 per cent are hit by dementia.
Myth: Medications to treat mental illnesses are addictive.
Fact: While some sleeping pills can be addictive, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to treat say, schizophrenia or manic depression, are not, and they help restore normal functioning.
Myth: Only mentally ill people see psychiatrists.
Fact: Sometimes, people just need professional help to solve their problems.
CHANG AI-LIEN