5 Myths About Mental Health That Hurt Us All

Some of the deepest scars in mental health aren’t caused by illness; they’re caused by the

myths that convince people to hide their pain. If you broke your leg riding a bike, would you

walk around on it as if nothing ever happened? Personally, I wince at the thought. So why do we treat our mental health any differently? We hide invisible wounds as if they aren’t just as real, just as urgent, and just as deserving of care as a broken bone. Instead of compassion, mental health struggles are too often met with judgment, pushing people to the margins. Generations-old myths perpetuate this stigma around mental health in our everyday lives. It’s our job to learn them, confront them, and dismantle them for those who don’t yet have the voice or strength to do so on their own.

That being said, here are five myths about mental health that hurt us all:

1. You only need to take care of your mental health if you have a mental illness.

As my father always used to say, “Prevention is better than cure.” Self-care isn’t only

reserved for people who are struggling mentally. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, practicing various forms of regular self-care is one of the best ways to lower your risk of illness. Self-care methods include regular exercise, sufficient sleep, setting time to relax your brain, eating healthy, and staying hydrated.

2. Struggling is a sign of weakness.

Many people think that struggling with things like anxiety, PTSD, or depression is a sign

of weakness. This incentivizes people to remain silent rather than to ask for help when they need it. Among the youth specifically, the fear of being perceived as “weak” by their peers creates tension around seeking support. This leads students to silently mount their stress, only to have it erupt into more serious health issues later. It has been scientifically proven that academic stress has been directly linked to physical symptoms, including fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues (National Library of Medicine, 2022). This is a prime example of how mental health can take a toll on your body physically.

3. It’s “attention-seeking” to ask for help.

Research has proven that stigma is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care.

Around 50% of people with mental health conditions never receive treatment because of fear of judgment, as reported by the World Health Organization. Everyone has a right to take care of themselves, and that includes their mental health. Taking the steps to do so isn’t

“attention-seeking,” it’s being responsible and courageous. When someone finds the strength to speak up, it’s our duty to respond with support, not dismissal.

4. If someone looks fine, they must be fine.

This is one of the biggest fallacies in human relations. Mental health challenges are often

invisible, which makes this one of the most damaging misconceptions. Speaking from personal experience, some of us are skilled at hiding our emotions, making it hard for others to recognize when something is troubling us.

That is why it is so important to go the extra mile: To check in on a colleague, friend, sibling, or mentee even when they appear fine on the surface. Simply asking “How are you really doing?” can create the space for honesty and remind them that they’re not alone.

5. Believing you can’t help.

Helping someone who is going through a hard time can be as simple as a phone call just

letting them know you’re there. Feeling alone can exacerbate their struggles, so it’s important to be there for those you can. Each of you is capable of making a difference in someone else’s life.

For me, one of the things that lifts me up the most on a bad day is something as small as a smile. It reminds me that I matter, and that I’m not invisible.

As you can imagine, these misconceptions are detrimental to those struggling. If we

challenge these myths, fewer and fewer people will be forced to suffer in silence. Start checking in. Start listening. Be the support someone may desperately need.