• Home
• About Metro
  • Mission and Vision
  • About Metro Charities
  • News and Events
  • Executive Director
  • Board of Directors
  • Metro Program Directors
• Living With HIV
  • Metro Services
    • Case Management
    • Inmate Discharge Planning
    • Women's Personal Care Pantry
    • HIV/AIDS Service FAQs
    • Rights of Metro Clients
  • HIV/AIDS Medical Clinics
    • Pinellas County
    • Hillsborough County
  • Resources/Links
• HIV Prevention and Testing
  • Metro Hotline
  • Free HIV Testing
    • HIV Test FAQs
    • Why Be Tested?
    • Who Should Be Tested?
    • Where To Test
      • St Pete
      • Tampa
  • Learn More
    • Keeping Safe
    • HIV Basics
    • HIV Transmission
    • HIV Symptoms
    • Difference Between HIV and AIDS
    • HIV/AIDS Treatments
    • Myths About HIV/AIDS
    • Statistics
    • Links/Resources
    • Test Your Knowledge
• Minority Outreach
  • HIV Minority Statistics
  • Free HIV Testing for Minorities
  • HIV Prevention and Risk Reduction
  • Minorities Living With HIV
• Substance Abuse Programs
  • Outpatient Substance Abuse Programs
    • Facts About Substance Abuse
    • Substance Abuse and HIV
    • Getting Started
• Mental Health Programs
  • Facts About Mental Health
  • Mental Health Support Group Therapy
    • Living, Loving and Learning
    • W.E.L.L.
  • Newly Diagnosed HIV Counseling
  • Individual Counseling Sessions
  • Psychiatric Evaluations/Medication
  • Getting Started
• GLBT Metro Centers
  • What's Happening Now
  • About Metro GLBT Centers
  • GLBT Health
  • GLBT Events Calendar
    • St. Petersburg
    • Tampa
  • GLBT Cyber Center
  • Locations and Contact
• Support Metro
  • Give Money
    • How to Give
    • Donate Online
    • Corporate Sponsorships
    • Special Event Sponsorships
  • Give Time
    • About Metro Volunteers
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Metro Volunteer Guidelines
    • Corporate Community Partners
• Metro Thrift Store
• Contact and Locations
• Employment
  • Case Management
  • Psychiatry/Counselors
  • Administrative
  • Miscellaneous

Common Myths and Facts about Mental Health

Myth - Mental illnesses cannot affect me.
Fact: Mental illnesses are surprisingly common; they affect almost every family in America. You probably know someone with a mental illness don’t even realize it. Mental illnesses don’t discriminate—they can affect anyone.

Myth - Mental illnesses are brought on by a weakness of character.
Fact: Mental illnesses are a product of the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.
                 
Myth - Once people develop mental illnesses, they will never recover.
Fact: Studies show that most people with mental illnesses get better, and many recover completely.     
                    
Myth - Therapy and self-help are wastes of time. Why bother when you can just take one of those pills you hear about on TV?
Fact: Treatment varies depending on the individual.
        
(Source: SAMHSA http://allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/myths_facts.html)