Mental health
Five myths. Time to bust them.
You won't always know someone is struggling. Ask anyway.
Five things most people get wrong – and what to say when you hear them.
What’s one thing that stops someone asking for help? They’re worried what you’ll think.
Fear of being judged. Fear of looking weak. That’s what keeps people quiet. In fact, one in three young people dealing with a mental health problem never ask for support.
Changing that starts with what people hear from the people they trust. Every time someone repeats a myth about mental health, it makes it a little harder for someone nearby to speak up. And every time someone calls out a misconception, it gets a little easier.
Here are five myths worth knowing. See how many you’ve been carrying – and learn what to say next time you hear one.
1. “It’s not that common.”
False. Two in five young people experience a mental health problem each year. On a sporting team of 20, that’s 8 people. In a workplace of 10, that’s 4 colleagues.
When someone thinks what they’re going through is rare or weird, they’re more likely to stay quiet. Nobody wants to be the only one.
What to say instead: “It’s far more common than people think.”
2. “You’d know if someone was struggling.”
False. People put serious energy into looking like they’re doing fine. They show up. They crack jokes. They say “yeah, good” when they’re not. There’s no single sign to look for.
Often, if someone believes others can always tell when something’s wrong – and no-one’s said anything – they’ll assume no-one cares. That’s why checking in matters, even when everything looks fine.
What to say instead: “A lot of people put a lot of effort into looking like they’re doing fine. That’s exactly why checking in matters.”
3. “People with mental health issues are unpredictable.”
False. Most people dealing with mental health issues are doing the exact same stuff as everyone else – working, studying, playing sport, raising kids. When we assume it only looks a certain way, we write off the people who don’t match that picture.
What to say instead: “Most people dealing with something look exactly like everyone else.”
Four people. Statistically, at least one is dealing with something. Check in.
4. “Asking for help is a sign of weakness.”
False. This one runs deep, especially for young men. The pressure to be strong makes asking for help feel like a failure. But that equation – strong means silent – is one of the biggest reasons men don’t reach out.
If someone believes asking makes them weak, they won’t do it. And the people around them who could help never get the chance.
What to say instead: “Getting help early is a strong move, not a weak one.”
5. “You should be able to sort it out yourself.”
False. No-one tells a cricketer to set their own broken finger. No-one expects a footy player to rehab an ACL in their living room. But somehow, when it comes to mental health, we expect people to manage alone.
This myth keeps people stuck. They wait until their health has deteriorated before asking for help – and by then, it’s harder to come back from.
What to say instead: “You wouldn’t rehab a knee on your own. Same deal.”
How to put this into play
Think about which of those five you’ve carried. Most of us hold at least one without questioning it.
Then listen for them. In conversation, after a game, at work, at home. Next time one comes up, you don’t need to make a speech about it. Just say what you know.
One correction, from someone they trust, can be the thing that makes it feel OK to speak up.
It also helps to know what struggling actually looks like. Read up on the signs someone might be doing it tough.
Struggling, or worried about someone else? Find support resources here.
