Myth vs Facts
Mental health and mental illness are related but distinct concepts; mental health is your overall psychological wellbeing, while mental illness is a diagnosable condition affecting mood or behaviour.
What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?
This is the negative attitude or unfair beliefs people have about mental illness that can make others feel ashamed.
What is stigma?
Most people with mental illness start showing symptoms before this age.
What is before age 18?
What type of language puts the person before their diagnosis, such as “person with depression”?
What is person-first language?
This mental illness is marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and can affect sleep and energy levels.
What is Depression?
Lots of people get better or learn to manage their illness, so they can live happy, full lives.
What is, does having a mental illness mean you’ll have it forever?
Stigma can stop people from asking for this kind of help when they need it most.
What is mental health support or treatment?
This percentage of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder.
What is approximately 20%?
What kind of language avoids blaming or labeling someone because of their mental health?
What is non-judgmental language?
People with this disorder often feel intense worry or fear that can interfere with daily activities.
What is Anxiety Disorder?
Having a mental illness doesn’t mean someone is dangerous. In fact, people with mental illness are more often the ones who get hurt by others.
What is, are people with mental illnesses violent?
When people judge others based on mental illness without understanding, it is called this.
What is discrimination?
There is a 60% increase in hospital emergency room visits and stays for youth in Canada due to these challenge.
What are mental health challenges?
This is one major benefit of using respectful language when discussing mental health.
What is encouraging people to seek support?
This condition can happen after a scary or traumatic event, causing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe stress.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
You can’t always tell if someone has a mental illness because many people hide it or get help so they look fine.
What are reasons you might not be able to tell if someone has a mental illness?
This type of stigma happens when a person feels shame or guilt about their own mental health struggles.
What is self-stigma?
If you don’t tell someone about a friend having distressing thoughts, that friend is at a higher risk of this.
What is hurting themselves or self-harm?
These kinds of words, like “crazy” or “psycho,” should be avoided because they hurt feelings and cause misunderstanding.
What are harmful or stigmatizing words?
This serious mental illness may cause hallucinations, delusions, and trouble thinking clearly.
What is Schizophrenia?
Nobody is completely safe from mental illness, but things like friends, exercise, and a good home can help protect you.
What is, is anyone completely safe from getting a mental illness?
This is a widely held but oversimplified and fixed idea about a group of people, like those with mental illness.
What is a stereotype?
This is the second leading cause of death amongst teenagers in Canada, surpassed only by accidental injury.
What is suicide?
The phrase “commit suicide” is discouraged because it implies this.
What is because it implies a crime or moral wrongdoing?
This disorder involves unwanted repetitive thoughts and actions, like excessive handwashing or checking things repeatedly. It is not needing to have a clean house.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?