Top main misinformation topics when it comes to Schizophrenia
(Resource: a Psychosis101.ca / ETP Zucker-Hillside Hospital)
Myth - People who are struggling could snap out of it if they tried medical treatment.
Fact: Mental illness and symptoms of psychosis are medical problems, and require the help of a medical professional just like in cases of high blood pressure or diabetes. This is one of the most important messages that we are trying to spread in the community.
Mental health treatment is just as important as a medical treatment and getting help is the start of recovery.
Myth - A person who suffers from psychosis/schizophrenia is dangerous.
Fact: The truth is it is very rare for people with psychosis to commit serious crimes. In fact, many people with psychosis are very shy and can be fearful of others a. Yet, in most cases these people are no more or less likely to be dangerous than anybody else. Sadly, many of them are more likely to be the victims of crimes.
Myth - Psychosis can’t happen to me!
Fact: Approximately Three in 100 people will have psychosis at some time in their life. That means, if you are in a room with 100 people, three of those people might have, or have had, or will have, an experience of psychosis.
Myth - You can “catch” psychosis from someone else.
Fact: Psychosis isn’t like the flu, it’s not a transmissible infection. You can’t catch it from someone who has it, and if you have experienced psychosis, you can’t “give” it to another person.
Psychosis is a medical condition that develops from an imbalance of brain chemicals, in the same way that cancer develops from an “imbalance” of cancer cells.