James Donaldson On Mental Health – 16 Wrong Ideas About Mental Illness

Mental ailment might sometimes be difficult to talk about, in part since friends and family might mobilize the most awful images from the television as well as films. However those depictions often aren’t exact or perhaps most likely.

So this post might be valuable if you’re hearing (or sensing) any one of these common, but wrong, suggestions. And also if you’re presuming the worst concerning a loved one, the good news is that you might be incorrect.

1. Myth: Mental disease is rare. Reality: About one in 5 experience some kind of mental disorder in any kind of year. Concerning one in 20 have a major condition, including schizophrenia, bipolar illness or significant anxiety.

2. Myth: People with mental illness are constantly ill. Reality: Even people with severe diseases such as psychosis might be in touch with reality more frequently than they are not. Many individuals silently browse their signs and symptoms without revealing indications of it to others.

3. Myth: Most people with mental illness survive the streets or are in mental healthcare facilities. Fact: Most Americans who have a mental disorder stay in the area as well as lead efficient lives. Those who need a hospital stay generally stay just for treatment as well as return home. Some, nevertheless, do come to be homeless.

4. Myth: Mentally unwell people are likely to become violent. Truth: People that are out of touch with reality throughout a mental health situation are more frequently scared, confused, as well as despairing than violent. Only about 3 percent of people with major mental disease had dedicated a violent act within a four-year period, according to one research. If they additionally had a compound use condition, the figure climbed to 10 percent.

Does that sound high? Numerous psychologically unwell individuals originate from neighborhoods where violence is extra typical. When emotionally unwell individuals are compared to people from their very own area, study suggests the rates of violence are the same.

Most violent crimes– as much as 95 percent— are devoted by individuals without mental disease. On the various other hand, individuals with severe mental illness are more than 10 times most likely to be a sufferer of a fierce criminal activity than the general populace.

5. Myth: Mental disease is solely caused by genes. Fact: Mental diseases typically arise out of a mix of causes, consisting of genetics, background, as well as existing atmosphere.

6. Myth: Only children have attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Fact: Symptoms first turn up in youngsters but may not have been detected then. They can last into adulthood, and also adults might require therapy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 8 percent of U.S. grownups as much as age 44 have or will have ADHD at some point.

#James Donaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation
website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

7. Myth: Schizophrenia refers to a \”split character, \” and there is no chance to manage it. Reality: Schizophrenia is typically perplexed with dissociative identity condition. Individuals with schizophrenia have signs ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and also delusions, which can be handled with therapy and drug. They do not have 2 identities.

8. Myth: Depression supports aging. Fact: People often tend to obtain happiness from middle age on. Although some may lead a quieter life with time, when an older individual ends up being inactive or withdrawn, it is appropriate to reveal worry.

9. Myth: Suicides are extra common on dark days and in chilly months. Fact: It’s real that an absence of sunlight can trigger low state of mind and a problem called seasonal affective disorder. However suicides optimal in the springtime and summertime, possibly in part due to the inflammation related to seasonal allergies. Self-destructions also can enhance on sunny days or weeks after a dark spell.

10. Myth: Suicides enhance throughout the wintertime holidays. Reality: The self-destruction rate are more frequent in November, December as well as January.

11. Myth: Scandinavians are always dismal because of their lengthy, dark winters months. Truth: Sweden had a high suicide rate in the 1960s but a surge in social welfare as well as mental health and wellness solutions brought the numbers down considerably. Finland has additionally had high rates. Today, Scandinavian nations rack up high up on measures of joy and have below-average self-destruction rates. They do, nevertheless, have high rates of suicide among young people.

12. Myth: Women and also young people are more likely to die by suicide. Truth: Women are more probable to experience anxiety, however the male suicide rate has to do with 4 times higher. Older Americans have the greatest prices. In the current government numbers, Americans aged 15 to 24 did have a high self-destruction price, compared to various other age– greater than 19 percent. But it was somewhat lower than the rate for 75 to 84-year-olds. Individuals age 85 and up have a suicide rate of 22 percent.

13. Myth: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as “shock therapy,” hurts and barbaric. Truth: Patients who obtain ECT are sleeping as well as under anesthetic, so they do not really feel anything. It has actually provided brand-new lives to individuals that experience serious anxiety that has not reacted to other therapies.

14. Myth: Depression is triggered by an absence of serotonin in the mind. Fact: The popularity of medications that boost serotonin availability has made this concept significant for decades. However when the medications work, many state, it’s more than likely for other reasons. “The main locations of serotonin research study give no regular evidence of there being an association in between serotonin as well as anxiety, and no support for the hypothesis that clinical depression is brought on by lowered serotonin activity or focus,” a team of British scientists wrote in a July 2022 review. (This doesn’t mean anyone need to ditch their medicine. If it \’s helping you, you absolutely shouldn’t.)

15. Myth: You can’t save individuals that wish to die by suicide because they’ll try once more. Truth: Nine out of 10 people who attempt self-destruction and also make it through do not die by suicide later. Around 70 percent don’t try again. There is always wish for greater health– as long as they’re still to living.

16. Myth: Family as well as friends can’t assist someone that is emotionally ill. Truth: Many U.S. grownups with diagnosable issues don’t receive therapy. That implies social assistance is even more key. You can guide them to psychological wellness services. However also if someone has professional aid, you can help by treating them with regard and care. You can aid conquer embarassment and also version or suggest dealing methods.

Act swiftly if you see disturbing check in a young person. Half of all psychological health and wellness conditions start producing symptoms before a person transforms 14 years of ages– as well as very early therapy makes a massive distinction.

If you or somebody you like is contemplating suicide, look for help right away. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or connect to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.

James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.

In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.

He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.

James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!

For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:

www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)

James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.

If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org