As Africans, we have heard all sorts of myths and folk-tale about almost every topic in life: from pregnancy, to food fads, to mental illness. Unfortunately, myths associated with mental illness is not limited only to Africa. It is widespread and contribute to an age-old stigma, leading many to withdraw into shame and avoid seeking the help they need.
Today we talk about the common myths and dispel these myths.
Myth 1: “MENTAL illness is a white man’s thing: Africans don’t have it.”
A lot of people still believe this. This particular myth has two schools of thought within it.
One school, when they say this, really mean that while they believe in the concept of “madness,” they disagree with the idea that this problem is a medical one. As far as they are concerned, psychiatry is white peoples’ attempt to ignore the reality of the spiritual and try to solve spiritual matters with their scientific ideas.
The other side of this myth is that illnesses like anxiety disorders and depression and schizophrenia are due to white’s people over development, and emotional weakness from too much food and good living. To them, strong people, who are dealing with real life issues don’t have time to get depressed or have panic attacks. They have saying like it’s when you have 3 squares meals, light and water that you can then have a mental illness.
Fact: One in every 4 or 5 people have one form of mental disorder. Yes, even right here in Africa.
Myth 2: Mental illness is caused by demons or evil spirits, and the solution is deliverance/exorcism
As Africans, we have been taught to attribute everything to spiritual causes. Mental illnesses are attributed to spiritual attacks by the patient and the respond by fasting and praying. Family members respond by taking the person to (usually in this order: their local church, alfa then some baba in some village then finally maybe a psychiatric hospital). Even when they come for treatment. They come to fulfil some form of righteousness. Let it not be that we didn’t try this one.
Fact: Mental illnesses are due to a combination of factors. There are demonstrable abnormalities in their brains
Myth 3: People with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough.You hear people say, you will snap out of your depression. Read a book. Watch a movie. You will be fine.
Fact: Mental illnesses are not like bad mood you can snap out of or can be talked out of. There isn’t an on/off switch which allows one turn off the symptoms associated with it. Some mental illnesses especially the mild episodes may have a duration span meaning without treatment, it will run its course and wane over time. So, when some people go: I snapped out of mine. I didn’t have to go and see any doctor or take any medication. They might have had a mild episode which ran its course, bearing this in mind, no mental illness should be trivialized. Nothing cuts deeper to someone with depression than when his or her serious condition is trivialized by another who doesn’t understand it. Truth is, depression and other mental illnesses have the ability to kill, so why wouldn’t we take them seriously?
People with mental health can get better, and many recover completely, but most realize their need for intervention at some level.
Myth 4: People with mental illness are violent and unpredictable
Fact: This is a negative stereotype associated with people with mental illness. THE FACT IS THEY ARE NO MORE VIOLENT THAN YOU AND I. The vast majority of people who are violent do not suffer from mental illness. In our bid to understand some despicable acts of violence, we labels such offenders as having a mental illness. In fact, most violence typically results not from any mental illness but from more commonly shared factors with the general public, such as feeling threatened or excessive use of alcohols or drugs.
Myth 5: Children and teens don’t experience mental health problems.
Fact: There is an old belief that children and adolescents are too immature to have a mental illness. It has been found that not only is this false but one in five children and adolescents has a diagnosable mental illness; even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health issues. Children and teenagers however have different clinical presentations from those of adults.
Myth 6: Mental illnesses cannot affect me.
Fact: Sorry, but no one is immune. No one is superman. In fact, mental health problems are very common. One in five adults experiences a mental health issue; One in 10 young people experiences a period of major depression, and One in 10 Nigerians will suffer from a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. This means almost every family in Nigeria will have some family member (immediate or extended) with a mental illness (test this but thinking of that uncle or aunty or cousin that it’s been suggested has a mental illness). Mental illnesses do not discriminate; they can affect anyone.
Myth 7: Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.
Fact: Mental illness can strike anyone, at any time, whether you are “weak” or strong—it knows no bounds. And it has nothing to do with being weak. Some of the strongest people you will meet are those who have coped with depression or mental illness all their lives. While various factors like the death of a loved one or a job loss can contribute to onset of a mental illness; they are actually due to a combination of various forces: biological, psychological and social factors. Never is a diagnosis of mental illness an accusation of weakness.
Myth 8: People with mental illnesses cannot hold down a job
Fact: A person with a mental illness can do the same jobs as his well-bodied counterparts. They are actually doing this. There are lots of people with mental illnesses who cope well with their jobs. Realistically, all jobs are stressful to some extent. However, studies show that people with mental illness who find competitive jobs enjoy a higher quality of life. Besides allowing people to support themselves, work is also a powerful form of therapy. This being said there are however a few with more severe illnesses who can’t cope with their jobs. Those ones tend not to cope even with basic activities, so don’t judge anyone.
Source:Dr Fikayo Manuwa, FWACP,Consultant Psychiatrist