Are misconceptions about psychology causing people not to get help?

Lucina Mendez
November 24, 2009
Poll Story 2
(How people feel about Psychology)


Twenty-three out of 24 people polled agree that psychology is a science, yet 15 out of 24 people

think medications only help with mental illness some of the time.


Eight out of 24 people polled have seen a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor in a professional

capacity at one point in their lives, and six of the eight found the process of seeking professional help

in this manner to be a positive experience.


Despite the high number of mental health problems and disorders that develop in early adulthood,

young adults are often reluctant to seek professional help. Young men and minorities are the most

likely to refrain from seeking help, according to the American Medical Association.


Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated one in four

adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to the National Institute of

Public Health.

The NIPH also found that mental illness and suicide, accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of

disease in the United States. The Disease burden is the impact of a health problem in an area measured

by financial cost, mortality, as well as other indicators. This finding is more than the disease burden

caused by all cancers. This data was collected by the massive Global Burden of Disease study conducted

by the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and Harvard University.


A recent study conducted in the United States reported that half of all life-long mental

disorders start by 14 years of age, and three-quarters start by 24 years of age according to

the DSM-IV- the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Lucina Mendez
Poll Story 2
Page 2





An article written by Jon M Grohol, PSYD about misconceptions in psychology mentions,

“Depression is often viewed as the common cold of mental disorders, because it is so

prevalent in our lives. The lifetime prevalence of depression suggests that more than 1 in 9

people could be diagnosed with the disorder at one point in their lives. And unlike some other

mental disorders, depression affects virtually every aspect of what you do and how you interact

with others. Every year, it wreaks havoc in millions of Americans’ lives, especially amongst

those who believe it is something you should just get over on your own.”


Seventeen out of the 24 people polled believe that criminals get off too often using the

insanity defense, which is another popular misconception in psychology according to a study

conducted by researchers Eric Silver, Carmen Cirincione and Henry Steadmen. The study also

found that less than one percent of criminals are acquitted on the basis of an insanity verdict.


Nine out of the 24 people polled believe that people suffering from schizophrenia are

dangerous, according to Web M.D this is not always the case. They contend that most people with

schizophrenia are not violent, “More typically, they prefer to withdraw and be left alone. In some

cases, however, people with mental illness who also abuse alcohol or drugs may engage in

dangerous or violent behavior. On the other hand, people with schizophrenia can be a danger to

themselves. Suicide is the number one cause of premature death among people with schizophrenia.”




Lucina Mendez
Poll Story 2
Page 3





There are several different types of drugs available to treat mental illnesses. Some of the most

commonly used are antidepressants, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, and stimulant medications. Side

effects can vary, depending on what type of drug you are taking, and may improve once the person

taking the medication becomes accustomed to the drug. However, for many reasons, people may avoid

seeking help for their mental health concerns.