MYTHS

People with mental health problems are often violent.

In fact people with a mental health problem are no more likely to be violent than any other person. In contrast to what you might think due to media attention, someone with schizophrenia is 100 times more likely to harm themselves rather than anyone else, 10% will commit suicide. In fact people with mental health problems are more likely to be the victims of crime than the reverse.

Mental illness is a learning disability

Learning disability is an intellectual impairment and is quite different from a mental illness. It is present from birth and cannot be "cured". Intellectual functioning varies in the mentally ill as it does in the rest of the population, therefore having a mental health problem does not have an adverse affect on intelligence.

Mental health problems are permanent and untreatable

Studies over a significant period have shown that that most people who have a mental illness recover and lead stable and productive lives. 80% of people with depression and anxiety will recover within 6 months.

People with mental health problems cannot tolerate stress in the workplace

This is untrue. The response to stress of someone with a mental health problem, as with the rest of the population, very much depends on the individual and their own response to stressful conditions. We are all different.

Excessive absenteeism

The suggestion that someone with a mental health problem will have far higher rates of absenteeism than other employees is also untrue. Research has shown that the opposite is often the case. People with a mental health problem are often far more conscientious and motivated to do well than other members of staff.