Psychiatric Hospital

Centre for Studies on Human Stress

Mental Health Disorders: Myths or Realities?

Many popular ideas are transmitted daily and some of these are related to mental health problems. In order to determine whether these widespread beliefs are based on myth or reality, we consulted 5 experts in the field.

So, what do you think…myth or reality?? Test your knowledge and validate your responses with expert explanations!

  • Audrey Bertrand is a Ph.D. student under the supervision of Dr. Kieron O’Connor at the Fernand-Seguin Research Center at the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
  • Dr. André Marchand is a researcher at the Fernand-Seguin Research Center at the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
  • Dr. Stéphane Kunicki is head of the intensive care unit at the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital
  • Dr. Stéphane Potvin is a researcher at the Fernand-Seguin Research Center at the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital 

 

People who suffer from depression have a tendency to be perfectionists and who always want to do too much.

 Myth or  Reality

Myth

It is true that people who are perfectionist are predisposed to develop depression. However, individuals with depression are not all perfectionists.

Dr. Stéphane Kunicki

Individuals who are depressed can snap out of it with medications or a therapy.

 Myth or  Reality

Reality

Depression is curable. It is important to know that combined approaches, that is, the combination of medication and therapy, yield better success rates than medication alone.

Dr. Stéphane Kunicki

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder take excessive precautions, as they are afraid of everything.

 Myth or  Reality

Myth

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder take excessive precautions that are in line with their obsessions. Therefore, they are not afraid of everything.

Audrey Bertrand

People who consume drugs are at risk of developing schizophrenia.

 Myth or  Reality

Reality

In fact, people who consume drugs can advance the appearance of symptoms by 7 years.

Dr. Stéphane Kunicki

People with mental disorders are all more violent.

 Myth or Reality

Myth

In fact, only 1% of individuals with mental disorders are violent

Dr. Stéphane Kunicki

People suffering with schizophrenia come from poor neighborhoods and/or little stimulation.

 Myth or  Reality

Myth

Schizophrenia affects those from every socio-economic strata.

Dr. Stéphane Kunicki

People with substance abuse grew up in poorer neighborhoods.

 Myth or  Reality

Myth

Attention! We cannot generalize; there are substance abusers from every socio-economic strata.

Dr. Stéphane Potvin

Tabacco is more addictive than cannabis (i.e., there is a greater risk of becoming dependent after consuming tabacco than cannibis).

 Myth or  Reality

Reality

Certain drugs are more addictive than others. You can consult the comparative figure below.

Dr. Stéphane Potvin

 

Substance abuse can begin after a single consumption.

 Myth or  Reality

Reality

As a function of one’s predispositions, it is possible to become dependent on a substance after a single consumption.

Dr. Stéphane Potvin

People become anxious because of the area where they live.

 Myth or Reality

Myth

One’s living area is not the cause of anxiety disorders. However, people who live in stressful environments or who have members of their family who suffer from anxiety disorders are predisposed to develop an anxiety disorder themselves.

Dr. André Marchand

 

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