cartoon of young people with mental health issues

Working with young people with mental health issues

Common myths

Myth 1: Only a small number of people experience mental illness
Mental illness is more common than most people realise, with about 20% of Australians experiencing mental illness in their life time. 12

Because of the stigma attached to mental illness, it is rarely talked about openly. This leads many people to mistakenly believe that it only affects a small number of people.

Myth 2: People who have a mental illness will never recover
Most mental illnesses can be treated effectively and most people who experience mental illness recover.

For example, about 20% of people with schizophrenia have one or two psychotic episodes and never experience symptoms again. 60% improve with time, treatment and support and can live independently. Only about 20% require more support because treatment is less effective for them. 12

Myth 3: People who have a relative with a mental illness will also develop a mental illness

While many mental illnesses are caused by a physical dysfunction of the brain, it is unknown what exactly triggers this.

People who have a relative with a mental illness do have a higher chance of developing a mental illness, however they have a much higher chance of not developing a mental illness. 12

For example, the chances of developing schizophrenia are about 1% for the general population. However even if an identical twin develops schizophrenia the other twin has only a 30% chance of also developing the illness. 12

Mental illness is likely to be caused by both a genetic predisposition and a range of environmental factors. 12

Stress and the use of recreational drugs such as cannabis can contribute to the onset of mental illness in people who have a genetic predisposition. 12