Mental illness myths debunked

  While doing research for an unrelated project, I came across some startling statistics related to mental illness.

  While it's "easy" to read approximately one in four Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, it's another thing to read that when applied to the 2004 census numbers, this figure translates to approximately 57.7 million people ages 18 and older. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada for ages 15-44.

  Half of lifetime cases begin at age 14. Mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of disease in established market economies. This is more than the disease burden caused by all cancers. This got me thinking. If it's so prevalent, why then, is it so difficult to talk about?

  The notion of mental illness has carried a long-standing stigma. Part of breaking such is to replace myths with facts.

  Myth: Young people and children don't suffer from mental illness.

  Fact: It is estimated that more than 6 million young people in America may suffer from a mental health disorder that severely disrupts their ability to function at home, in school, or in their community.

  Myth: Mentally ill persons are dangerous.

  Fact: The vast majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent. In the cases where violence does occur, the incidence typically results from the same reasons as with the general public such as feeling threatened or excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs.

  Myth: People with mental illness can work low-level jobs but aren't suited for really important or responsible positions.

  Fact: People with mental illness, like everyone else, have the potential to work at any level depending on their own abilities, experience and motivation.

  Myth: A person who has had a mental illness can never be "normal."

  Fact: People with mental illnesses can recover and resume normal activities. For example, Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" has received treatment for clinical depression and today leads an enriched and accomplished life.

  Wallace is not the only "normal" or "successful" person who has been diagnosed with a mental illness. Abraham Lincoln, Ludwig van Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh and Ernest Hemingway have all been identified as having a diagnosable mental illness.

  Lionel Aldridge, a defensive end for Vince Lombardi's legendary Green Bay Packers of the 1960s, played in two Super Bowls. In the 1970s, he suffered from schizophrenia and was homeless for 2-1/2 years. Until his death in 1998, he gave inspirational talks on his battle against paranoid schizophrenia.

  In an interview with "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell, comedian and new host of "The Price Is Right" Drew Carey revealed that his longtime depression led to an intentional overdose on pills at the age of 18 and again in his 20s.

  Speaking of the stigma of the disease, Carey said, "Living in Hollywood, you can get disconnected from everybody. You can feel like you are the only one. So you feel it, you hold it in and you don't let it go and you don't try to find help because you think, 'Oh man if I tell anybody, I'm going to seem like I'm weak. I won't get a movie deal. I won't get invited to…' whatever goes through your head."

  Such stigma is not unique to Hollywood. Not everyone is vying for a movie deal - perhaps it's a job, a position on an organized team or a date. It is stigma, however, that encourages people to hold it in and discourages people from seeking assistance. It is a lack of differentiating between myth and fact. It is an assumption that mental illness is only for those destined to be prescribed medication.

  In hindsight, perhaps mental illness will never be easily talked about. After all, it's not easy to talk about cancer or the effects of any other debilitating disease when you or a loved one has been diagnosed. But it can, and should, become more understood so that we can accept it as a facet of society and become more willing and able to ask for assistance. Understanding the effects and recognizing the early signs are one way to start. The other is to understand the facts and reduce the stigma.

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Mary Murphy holds a master's of education in counseling and is currently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership. She has over 15 years' experience in higher education and currently serves as the director of housing services for the Excel Group.