Mental Health Myths
True or False: Mental illness is a lifelong sentence with no chance of recovery.
False
The most common mental health condition worldwide.
Anxiety
Feeling sad once in a while is normal—but feeling sad, hopeless, or losing interest in things most of the day for two weeks or more can be a sign of this condition.
What is depression?
One of the most important parts of a good treatment plan is this personal resource.
What is a support system or trusted person/social supports?
Practicing this type of breathing can help regulate the nervous system during stress.
What is deep breathing (or diaphragmatic breathing)?
Many believe medication alone is enough to recover, but this type of treatment is often just as important.
What is therapy or psychosocial support?
This condition involves persistent feelings of sadness or loss of interest.
Depression
These are false beliefs that aren’t based in reality, often seen in psychotic disorders.
What are delusions?
This type of therapy focuses on changing unhelpful thought patterns.
What is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
One of the most important self-care habits in recovery is this regular health behavior.
What is sleep or taking medications as prescribed?
Myth: “If someone looks okay, they must be okay.” Why is this belief harmful?
What is because many symptoms are invisible or hidden?
This disorder is often associated with flashbacks or nightmares after trauma.
PTSD
Name two common early warning signs of relapse in a mood or psychotic disorder.
What is (any of: sleep changes, irritability, isolation, appetite changes, etc.)?
Having this kind of relationship with your provider—based on trust, honesty, and collaboration—makes treatment more effective.
What is a therapeutic rapport?
This skill involves noticing your emotions without judging them or reacting impulsively.
What is mindfulness?
True or False: You can just "snap out" of depression.
False
A mood disorder that includes both high (manic) and low (depressive) episodes.
Bipolar Disorder
This word describes a strong emotional response that happens quickly and feels overwhelming.
What is a trigger or emotional dysregulation?
This type of support comes from others who have lived experience with mental health challenges and are trained to help others in recovery.
What is peer support (or a peer support specialist)?
This type of self-care involves setting healthy limits with others to protect your time, energy, and emotional well-being.
What are boundaries?
Mental illness and violence are often linked in media, but research shows people with mental illness are more likely to be this.
What is victims of violence (not perpetrators)?
People often talk about hallucinations and delusions in schizophrenia, but this other group of symptoms—like lack of motivation or showing little emotion—can be just as hard to live with. What are these symptoms called?
What are negative symptoms?
This term describes a false sensory experience—like hearing voices or seeing things—that seems real but isn’t actually there.
What is a hallucination?
These are written or verbal plans for how to manage a mental health crisis.
What is a safety plan or crisis plan or wellness recovery action plan?
True or False: Avoiding all stress is the healthiest way to live.
What is false? (Some stress is manageable and helps build resilience.)