THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
June 7, 1999
MYTH #1: Mental illness is not a disease and cannot be treated.
FACT: Research in the last decade proves that mental illnesses are
diagnosable disorders of the brain. New brain imaging
technologies visually illustrate the differences in the
brains of healthy people and people with serious mental
disorders, such as schizophrenia. They show reductions in
the overall volume of the brain and distinct differences in
the way in which the brain processes information. There are
also now effective treatments for mental illness that, for
example, relieve symptoms for 80 percent of people with major
depression; control symptoms such as hallucination or
delusions for 70 percent of people with schizophrenia; and
alleviate symptoms for 50 to 60 percent of people with
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
MYTH #2: Mental illness doesn't happen to people like me or my family.
FACT: Mental illness affects most extended American families. One
in five Americans suffer from mental illness at some point in
their life. These illnesses strike all kinds of families,
regardless of race, socioeconomic class, educational level or
place of residence. Schizophrenia occurs at equal rates
regardless of education, socioeconomic status, or culture.
Depression, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders
are also equal opportunity illnesses. Women suffer from
depression at twice the rate of men regardless of where they
live, their culture, or socioeconomic status. Five million
older Americans suffer from depression, and one in ten
children and adolescents suffer from some type of mental
illness. Mental illness can happen to anyone.
MYTH #3: Depression is a part of life that can be worked through
without seeking help.
FACT: Depression is a diagnosable, treatable illness that affects
19 million adult Americans each year. It is a disorder of
the brain that is characterized by serious and persistent
symptoms such as changes in sleep, appetite, and energy;
cognitive losses such as slowed thinking; and clearly
discernible feelings like irritability, hopelessness, and
guilt. The severity and duration of depression symptoms are
clearly distinguishable from sadness and mood swings that are
part of life. When untreated, depression can have serious
consequences. Depression is the cause of over two-thirds of
the 30,000 American suicides each year, and according to the
World Health Organization, it is the leading cause of
disability in the United States. However, there are
effective treatments available that have proven to have 80
percent success rate for people diagnosed with depression.
MYTH #4: Teenagers don't suffer from "real" mental illness; they are
just moody.
FACT: We now know that teenagers and even younger children, can and
do suffer from mental illness. One in ten children and
adolescents suffer from mental illness severe enough to cause
some level of impairment, but fewer than 20 percent of these
children receive treatment. Without treatment, schoolwork
may suffer, normal family and peer relationships may be
disrupted, and violent acts may occur. In fact, depression
may lead to suicide, which is the third leading cause of
death among young adults. However, recent studies indicate
that 60 percent of depressed teenagers will improve with
modern treatments.
MYTH #5: Depression is a part of aging.
FACT: Research shows that depression is not a normal part of aging,
but that it is relatively prevalent among older people and
can have serious adverse consequences. Nearly 5 million of
the 32 million Americans age 65 and older suffer from
clinical depression. While only 13 percent of the U.S.
population, individuals ages 65 and older account for 20
percent of all suicide deaths, with white males being most
vulnerable. And older persons with other serious health
problems (strokes, hip fractures, heart conditions)
depression may delay recovery, cause refusal of treatment,
and lead to excessive disability and even death. However,
effective mental health treatment is available for older
Americans suffering from mental illness.
MYTH #6: Talk about suicide is an idle threat that need not be taken
seriously.
FACT: People who admit to having thoughts and plans about suicide
and people who have attempted suicide are at increased risk
for completing suicide in the future. In a study of nearly
4,000 adults seeking psychiatric treatment, persons with a
history of severe suicidal thoughts were 14 times more likely
than other individuals to later commit suicide within four
years. Research has shown that 90 percent of all suicide
victims have had a mental or substance abuse disorder.
MYTH #7: We cannot afford to treat mental disorders.
FACT: We cannot afford NOT to treat mental illness. Researchers
estimate that mental illnesses, including indirect costs such
as days lost from work, cost America tens of billions of
dollars each year. At the same time, businesses and states
that have implemented new strategies to treat these disorders
have not found notable increases in costs. For example, one
business, Bank One, spearheaded a comprehensive effort to
improve the company's ability to identify and get appropriate
treatment for employees with depression in a timely manner.
Between 1991 and 1995, the direct treatment costs for
depressive disorders decreased by 60 percent. Moreover, Ohio
implemented full mental health parity for its state employees
and did not find that this action increased costs at all.
MYTH #8: People with severe and persistent mental illnesses cannot be
productive members of society.
FACT: People with psychiatric disabilities face many barriers, but
appropriate support services can help them to succeed. A
1995 study of the Employment Intervention Demonstration
Program run by the Center for Mental Health Services assessed
the effectiveness of employment strategies to assist
individuals with severe mental illness get and keep
employment. It found that 55 percent of individuals
receiving such employment support services were working after
two years. Clearly, people with severe and persistent mental
illnesses want to be employed and productive, and given
appropriate treatment and support, they can be.
MYTH #9: Homeless people suffering from mental illness have little
chance of recovery.
FACT: There are effective treatments for homeless people with
mental illness. While one-third of homeless Americans suffer
from an untreated mental illness, research demonstrates a
decrease in homelessness when outreach to these individuals
is coupled with case management that provides them with
appropriate medical treatment and connects them to housing
and other supportive services. One study reported a 45
percent reduction in the number of days of homelessness after
three months of this type of treatment. Over a year, clients
had a 70 percent increase in the number of days worked,
demonstrating that homeless persons with mental illnesses can
make substantial improvements in the overall quality of their
lives.
MYTH #10: There is no hope for people with mental illness.
FACT: These illnesses, which will affect one in five Americans, can
be extremely debilitating. However, research proves that
mental illnesses are diagnosable and treatable disorders of
the brain. Eighty percent of people treated for severe
depression and 70 percent or people treated for schizophrenia
show positive responses to treatment -- far higher rates than
for many physical illnesses. The challenge is to ensure that
Americans with mental illness recognize these disorders and
get the help that they need.
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