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June 03, 2007

Stigma of mental illness may prevent people from seeking treatment

HealthDay (5/26, Preidt) reported, "For some of the more than 54 million Americans who suffer a mental illness in any given year, the stigma of their condition may prevent them from seeking treatment." A team at the Menninger Clinic in Houston debunked the top five myths about mental illness as part of May's Mental Health Month.

The team noted that although people with mental illness can be perceived as "weak," it takes strength to make "the decision to seek help for mental illness" and participate in its treatment. The team countered another myth that medications "cure mental illness" by stating, "While medicines can help manage symptoms, they're only part of the treatment process, which also includes therapy to help patients better understand the factors that contribute to their mental illness."

Furthermore, the team dispelled the concept that "[p]eople with mental illness could 'snap out of it' if they really wanted to" by pointing out that is "no different than telling someone with ... diabetes, hypertension or other physical illness or problem to 'snap out of it.'"

The clinicians also noted that "10 percent of children and adolescents in the United States suffer from serious emotional and mental disorders that have a major impact on their day-to-day lives."

Finally, the team put to rest the myth that people "with mental illness don't get well," saying that "a combination of medication and psychological treatments and support reduces symptoms and improves quality of life in between 70 percent and 90 percent of people with mental illness."

Related Links:

- "Mental Helath Myths: Many avoid seeking help based on fear of stigma, experts say," Robert Preidt, HealthDay, on NLM MedLine Plus Website, May 25, 2007.

Posted by admin at 04:11 PM