{"id":4227,"date":"2022-06-07T12:05:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T11:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.alison.com\/?p=4227"},"modified":"2022-06-07T12:05:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T11:05:05","slug":"busted-5-mental-health-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/busted-5-mental-health-myths-debunked","title":{"rendered":"Busted: 5 Mental Health Myths Debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all experience stress at some point in our lives. The stressors may be work-related, family <\/span><\/i>issues, illness, financial worries, and in the past two years, growing anxiety around the <\/span><\/i>coronavirus pandemic. These stresses look different for everyone and are experienced at <\/span><\/i>different levels. Some can deal and work through these issues, but for others, they are a <\/span><\/i>challenge. At their peak, these can affect the productivity of a workforce and for others, this <\/span><\/i>can be a precursor for mental health issues and distresses.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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Mental health conversations are often shrouded in shame, stigma, secrecy, and a lot of <\/span>misinformation. Despite all the efforts made to educate society on the realities and challenges of <\/span>mental health, it remains a taboo. In the workplace, it\u2019s an even bigger challenge because of the <\/span>scepticism towards those who have mental health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are mental health disorders?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are many types of mental health disorders and each manifests differently. Some of these <\/span>include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and autism. There are more than 10 types of mental disorders and can affect daily living and others can be long-lasting. These conditions affect your thinking, behaviour, mood, and feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who is at risk for mental disorders?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Mental illnesses do not discriminate, and anyone can develop a mental health disorder. However, there are certain conditions that can increase one\u2019s predisposition to developing a mental illness. The <\/span>National Institute of Mental Health<\/span> (<\/b>NIMH) in America estimates that 21% of all U.S adults suffer some form of a mental illness, females at a higher risk than males. These conditions were most prevalent in young adults compared to the 26-49 year and older age groups. Those at higher risk to develop a mental illness are identified by:<\/span><\/p>\n