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[pic] Myths, Facts and Stats of Mental Illness

Myth: Mental illnesses cannot affect me

Fact: Mental illnesses are surprisingly common; they affect almost every family in Canada. Mental illnesses do not discriminate according to race, socio-economic factors, gender, sexual orientation or anything else. They can affect anyone.

Stat: 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental illness in their life. 1 in 3 will be indirectly affected through family, friends or co-workers.

Myth: People with mental illnesses are violent and unpredictable

Fact: In reality, the vast majority of people who have mental health needs are no more violent than anyone else. You probably know someone with a mental illness and don't even realize it.

Stat: Likelihood that people with mental illness will commit violent acts: No greater than the general population. Likelihood that people with mental illness will be victims of crime: 2.5 times that of the general population.

Myth: Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character

Fact: Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. Research has shown genetic and biological factors are associated with schizophrenia, depression, and alcoholism. Social influences, such as loss of a loved one or a job, can also contribute to the development of various disorders.

Myth: Children do not experience mental illnesses. Their actions are just products of bad parenting

Fact: Just like adult mental illnesses, children can have clinically diagnosable health conditions that are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, social, and genetic factors.

Stat: Number of Canadian children and youth affected by mental illness at any given point in time: 15% or 1.2 million. Percentage of adults with mental illness who developed their symptoms in childhood or youth: 70%

[pic] Myths, Facts and Stats of Mental Illness

Myth: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.

Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help people to recover.

Stat: Percentage of Canadians who will experience depression in their lifetime: 7.9 – 8.6%. Likelihood of women experiencing depression: 2 times that of men

Myth: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.

Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy. Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help.

Stat: Percentage of seniors in long-term care facilities who are depressed: From 80 to 90%

Myth: I can't do anything for someone with mental health needs

Fact: You can do a lot, starting with the way you act and how you speak. You can nurture an environment that builds on people's strengths and promotes good mental health. For example:

• Avoid labeling people with words like "crazy," "wacko," "loony," or by their diagnosis. Instead of saying someone is a "schizophrenic" say "a person with schizophrenia."

• Learn the facts about mental health and share them with others, especially if you hear something that is untrue.

• Treat people with mental illnesses with respect and dignity, as you would anybody else.

• Respect the rights of people with mental illnesses and don't discriminate against them when it comes to housing, employment, or education.

It is human nature to fear what we don’t understand. As such, mental illness is feared by many people and unfortunately still carries a stigma. Because of this stigma, many people hesitate to get help for fear of being looked down upon. It is unfortunate that this happens because effective treatment exists for almost all mental illnesses. Worse, the stigma experienced by people with a mental illness can be more destructive than the illness itself.

Stat: Percentage of people who are depressed who respond well to treatment: 80%

Percentage of people who are depressed who never seek treatment: 90%

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