Mental Health Myths & Facts
People with mental illness are always violent.
False: Most people with mental illness are not violent and are more likely to become victims of violence themselves
When you feel worried, restless, and your heart races, you are likely experiencing this mood.
What is anxious/anxiety.
This "feel good" neurotransmitter is often linked to happiness and is boosted by SSRI's
What is Seritonin
This term refers to the ability to recover from difficulties or stress.
What is resilience
These medications are used to reduce symptoms like hallucinations or delusions in schizophrenia.
What are anti-psychotics
Depression and Anxiety are mental states that people can just "snap out of."
False: Both diagnoses are real medical conditions that needs support and treatment
Anger is often called a "secondary emotion" because it often hides these type of feelings underneath.
What is "primary emotions"; sadness, fear or hurt.
Often called the "reward chemical", it is involved in the pleasure-reward and addition pathways
What is Dopamine
This term refers to thoughts or beliefs that are not based in reality, common in psychosis
What are delusions.
This term refers to the process of gradually reducing medication dosage to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
What is tapering?
Mental illness is very common
Which type of therapy is often used to help people manage negative thoughts and improve mood
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The brain's ability to change and adapt after injury or learning is called what?
What is neuroplasticity.
This speech pattern involves repeating the last word or phrase spoken by someone else.
What is echolalia.
Which mood stabilizer is often used to treat bipolar disorder and requires regular blood tests.
What is Lithium
Mental illness only effects adults
False: Children and teens can experience mental health conditions - early treatment is key
If you feel very happy, full of energy, feel like you do not need sleep, and maybe even talk a lot, you might be experiencing this elevated mood.
What is mania.
This part of the brain controls automatic functions like breathing and heartbeat
What is the brainstem
This pattern is repeating the same negative thought over and over, making it hard to move on.
What is rumination.
This is a side effect of psychotropic medications, involving feelings or restlessness or inability to sit still.
Only trauma or bad experiences cause mental illness
False: Mental illness can stem from genetics, brain chemistry and environment.
People experiencing this symptom of depression might feel a lack of energy and a decreased ability to enjoy activites
What is anhedonia.
People with this disorder may experience changes in brain structure and function, leading to difficulty distinguishing reality.
What is schizophrenia
When a person's speech jumps quickly from one topic to another, making it hard to follow.
What is "flight of ideas".
This side effect involves restlessness, involuntary muscle contractions/rigidity, involuntary facial movements or drooling.
What is Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS).