And the correct answer is…

1. There is no cure for mental illness. It's just something you have to live with.

True

False

Mental disorders are highly treatable, and some types may be curable. The treatment success rate for mental illness is higher than it is for heart disease, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

2. Depressed people are sad and blue all the time.

True

False

This is both true and false. Depression affects people in many different ways. Some people feel sad and cry all the time. Other people have physical symptoms like stomach pain and headaches. Others have difficulty concentrating. Some people gain weight, others lose weight. And some people go long periods—even years—without any signs of depression. But most people can usually benefit from medical help. Even in severe cases, depression can be highly treatable.

3. Mental illness is all in a person's head.

True

False

People with chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease are at higher risk of developing mental disorders such as depression. And some diseases have symptoms that are similar to and can be confused with depression and other psychiatric conditions. Though we might not fully understand the correlation between psychological symptoms and disease states, mental illness is clearly not only in a person's head.

4. Mentally ill people are dangerous.

True

False

Except in rare circumstances with certain forms of mental illness, mentally ill people are no more dangerous to others than people suffering from any other disease. Unfortunately, the stigma of mental disorders prevents many people from seeking help or talking to others about their symptoms. In fact, members with certain mental disorders such as depression are more likely to do harm to themselves than to others.

5. Mentally ill people are easy to identify.

True

False

Look around at your family, friends, schoolmates and co-workers. Chances are there's someone with a mental disorder nearby. About one out of every five people suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder. Many people with mental illness successfully control their symptoms with therapy and medication and are able to live perfectly normal and productive lives.