Myth
Mental illness is the result of a personality weakness or character flaw.
Truth
Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. They occur all over the world, in all ethnicities, cultures and social classes. They are the products of biological, psychological and social factors. Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses and in some cases stem from genetic and biological causes. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical cause, and medication and/or therapy can help people recover.
