How common is mental illness in young
people? The stats.
- 1 in 4 young people aged 18 to 24 years suffer from a mental
illness.
- 1 in 100 people suffer from schizophrenia.
- 1 in 5 young people will experience an episode of depression
before the age of 18.
- 75% of mental illnesses have their onset in adolescence.
Common Myths about Mental Illness
Myth: Mental illnesses are not true illnesses like heart
disease or diabetes.
Decades of research have revealed that mental illnesses have a
biological basis.
While environmental factors play a role in the development and
maintenance of mental illnesses, they similarly play a role in the
development and maintenance of physical illnesses.
Myth: People with a serious mental illness, such as
schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: People with psychotic illnesses are rarely violent.
People with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence
than to commit violence themselves.
Myth: Schizophrenia means split
personality.
The Facts: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple
personality disorder but it has nothing to do with personality.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way that people
think. People with schizophrenia have a unique personality in
the same way as everyone else.
Myth: Depression results from a personality weakness or
character flaw.
Depression has nothing to do with being 'weak'. Many highly
successful people have suffered from depression. Depression results
from an imbalance in the neurochemistry of the brain.
Medication and counselling are effective in helping people to
recover. In an environment where mental illness is stigmatized, it
takes strength and courage for people with mental health problems
to seek the professional help that they need.
Myth: If you have a mental illness, you can will it
away.
The Facts: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away.
Avoiding or denying the problem will make the problem worse. In an
environment where mental illness is stigmatized, it takes strength
and courage for people with mental health problems to seek
professional help.
Myth: People who are mentally ill are
violent
Research indicates that people receiving treatment for a mental
illness are no more violent or dangerous than the general
population.
People living with a mental illness are more likely to be
victims of violence, especially self-harm. It has been
calculated that the lifetime risk of someone with an illness such
as schizophrenia seriously harming or killing another person is
just .005%, while the risk of that person killing themselves is
nearly 10%.
There appears to be a weak statistical association between
mental illness and violence. This seems to be concentrated in
certain subgroups, for example - people not receiving treatment who
have a history of violence, and those who abuse drugs or
alcohol.
The correlation between episodes of violence in people
experiencing mental illness is comparatively weaker than violent
behaviour in the context of alcohol abuse and violent behaviour in
young males between the ages of 15 and 25
Myth: Mental illness is a life sentence
Depending on the age of onset and the severity of the mental
illness, generally speaking, most people will experience complete
recovery, especially if they receive help early. Some people
may require ongoing treatment to manage their illness.
Some people have only one episode of mental illness and recover
fully. For others, episodes of mental illness occur
occasionally with years of wellness between episodes. For a
minority of those with a more severe illness, periods of acute
illness will occur regularly and, without medication and
effectivemanagement, leave little room for recovery. Though
some people experience significant disability as a result of a
mental illness, many go on to live full and productive lives, while
receiving ongoing treatment.
Myth: Mental illnesses are all the same
There are many types of mental illnesses and many kinds of
symptoms or effects.
Though a particular mental illness will tend to show a certain
range of symptoms, not everyone will experience the same symptoms -
for example many people with schizophrenia may hear voices, while
others may not. Simply knowing a person has a mental illness
will not tell you how well or ill they are what symptoms they are
experiencing, or whether they may recover or manage the illness
effectively. Mental illnesses are not purely 'psychological'
and can have many physical features. While a mental illness
may affect a person's thinking and emotions, it can also have
strong physical effects such as insomnia, speech impediment, weight
gain or loss, increase or loss of energy, chest pain and
nausea.
Myth: Some cultural groups are more likely than others
to experience mental illness
Anyone can develop a mental illness and no one is immune to
mental health problems.
People born in Australia have slightly higher rates of mental
illness than those born outside Australia in either
English-speaking or non English-speaking countries. Many
people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee
backgrounds have experienced torture, trauma and enormous loss
before coming to Australia. These experiences can cause
significant psychological distress and vulnerability to mental
illness. Cultural background affects how people experience
mental illness and how they understand and interpret the symptoms
of mental illness.
N.B This discussion was developed with the assistance of Dr
Candice Boyd, Lecturer and Clinical Psychologist, Orygen Youth
Health