Even with clear definitions, myths persist — and they are especially dangerous in our African context, where cultural beliefs, religion and socio-economic barriers often prevent people from seeking help.
Here are ten of the most harmful myths we encounter and the truth that dismantles them.
Myth 1: Mental illness is caused by witchcraft, a curse or ancestral punishment
The truth: Mental illnesses are health conditions just like diabetes, hypertension or malaria. They arise from a complex mix of genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, environmental stressors and life circumstances. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental disorders are biologically based brain disorders. They are not spiritual punishment nor are they a sign of ancestral disfavor.
Why this myth is dangerous: It prevents families from seeking medical help, delays treatment and heaps shame on individuals who are already suffering. It also leads some to pursue harmful "exorcism" practices instead of evidence-based care.
Myth 2: If you just pray harder, your depression will disappear
The truth: Prayer, faith and spirituality are powerful sources of comfort, hope and community for many people. They are not, however, a substitute for medical or psychological treatment. Depression is a clinical condition involving chemical imbalances in the brain, changes in neural pathways and often genetic predisposition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and it requires treatment — not just willpower or faith alone.
Why this myth is dangerous: It implies that those who remain depressed simply "didn't pray enough" or lack faith — which is both theologically unsound and psychologically damaging. It discourages people from seeking therapy, medication or professional support, leading to prolonged suffering and, in severe cases, suicide.
Faith and medicine are not enemies. You can pray and you can also see a doctor. They can and should coexist.
Myth 3: Mental illness is a "Western" problem; Africans don't get it
The truth: This is one of the most harmful and pervasive myths across Africa — and it is statistically false. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 150 million people in Africa live with mental health conditions. In Kenya specifically, the Ministry of Health estimates that 1 in 4 Kenyans will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime and currently 10.3% of Kenyans live with a common mental disorder like depression or anxiety.
Why this myth is dangerous: It denies the lived reality of millions of Africans, preventing them from seeking help because they believe their suffering is "not real" or "not serious enough." It also perpetuates the dangerous idea that mental health care is a luxury imported from the West, rather than a basic human right that belongs to all of us.
Myth 4: Therapy is for white people or the wealthy (decolonizing mental health)
The truth: Mental health challenges do not discriminate by race, class, culture or geography. The 1 in 4 Kenyans who will experience a mental health condition come from every village, every income bracket and every background. The perception that therapy is "foreign" or "elitist" is a colonial hangover — a harmful narrative that has kept generations of Africans from accessing care that is their fundamental human right.
Why this myth is dangerous: It keeps people from seeking help — especially in rural communities and lower-income households — because they believe care is "not for them." This myth widens the treatment gap and perpetuates suffering.
Mental health care is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And it belongs to all of us regardless of where we come from or how much we earn.
Myth 5: Taking psychiatric medication makes you a "zombie" or is addictive
The truth: Psychiatric medications, when prescribed and monitored by a qualified professional, are safe, effective and life-saving tools for managing mental illness. They work by correcting chemical imbalances in the brain, much like insulin manages diabetes or blood pressure medication manages hypertension. According to the American Psychiatric Association, modern psychotropic medications are carefully calibrated to minimize side effects and are not addictive when used as prescribed. Most people who take antidepressants, mood stabilizers or antipsychotics do not become "dependent" in the way one might become addicted to alcohol or drugs — rather, their brains are simply functioning better with the medication, much like someone with diabetes needs insulin.
Why this myth is dangerous: It prevents people from taking medication that could literally save their lives. It also fuels stigma, making people feel ashamed of needing medical help for their brain. Some stop taking their medication prematurely, leading to relapse, hospitalization or worse.
Medication is not a sign of weakness. It is a tool. And like any tool, when used correctly, it can rebuild a life.
Myth 6: People with mental illness are violent or dangerous
The truth: This is one of the most damaging and stigmatizing myths — and it is completely false. The vast majority of people living with mental illness are not violent. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. They are more likely to harm themselves (through suicide or self-injury) than to harm others.
Why this myth is dangerous: It creates fear, isolation and discrimination. It leads to people with mental illness being avoided, ostracized or even abused. It also prevents people from seeking help because they fear being labeled "dangerous," which delays treatment and worsens outcomes.
The real danger is not the person with mental illness — it is the stigma that isolates them and the silence that kills them.
Myth 7: Only adults can have mental health issues
The truth: Half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14. The Kenya Adolescent Health Survey found that a staggering 55% of adolescents suffer from mental health-related conditions. Children and teenagers experience depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD and eating disorders — often presenting differently than in adults (e.g., irritability instead of sadness, stomach aches instead of worry). Early intervention is critical because untreated childhood mental illness can lead to lifelong disability, school drop-out and increased risk of suicide.
Why this myth is dangerous: It prevents parents from recognizing the signs in their children. They dismiss behavioral issues as "just a phase," "attention-seeking," or "discipline problems." Meanwhile, the child suffers in silence, unable to name their struggle.
Myth 8: Depression is just sadness. You can snap out of it
The truth: Sadness is a normal human emotion that comes and goes like rain. Depression is a clinical condition, a persistent storm that doesn't lift. Depression involves changes in brain chemistry, neural pathways and hormonal regulation. According to the WHO, it is characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep, difficulty concentrating and, in severe cases, thoughts of suicide. It is not something you "snap out of" any more than you can "snap out of" having a broken leg.
Why this myth is dangerous: It invalidates the experience of those suffering, making them feel weak or lazy for not "trying harder." It also prevents people from seeking treatment because they believe they should be able to fix it themselves.
You cannot will away a chemical imbalance. But you can get treatment — and it works.
Myth 9: Real men don't struggle. Real men are strong
The truth: This myth is deeply rooted in toxic masculinity — and it is killing men. Kenya's Ministry of Health confirms that three out of every four suicide victims are men. Men are less likely to seek help for mental health challenges because they fear appearing "weak," "soft," or "unmanly." Yet depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use disorders affect men at similar rates as women — they just present differently (often as irritability, anger, aggression, risk-taking behavior or workaholism rather than sadness).
Strength has nothing to do with suffering in silence. True strength is knowing when you need help and having the courage to reach out. It is admitting that you are struggling. It is calling a friend, talking to a therapist or picking up the phone to a helpline. It is choosing to stay alive for the people who love you.
The World Health Organization notes that globally, men are significantly less likely than women to seek mental health care — not because they don't need it but because they have been told their whole lives that needing help is a weakness.
Why this myth is dangerous: It silences men. It isolates them from support. It tells them that their pain doesn't matter and that they should "man up" rather than open up. This myth contributes directly to the alarmingly high male suicide rate in Kenya and across Africa.
The bravest thing a man can do is ask for help.
Myth 10: Mental illness is a life sentence. Once you have it, you'll never get better
The truth: Recovery is real. With the right treatment — therapy, medication, peer support, lifestyle changes and community — most people with mental illness recover completely or learn to manage their symptoms effectively. According to NAMI, many people with severe mental illness go on to live full, productive and meaningful lives — working, raising families and contributing to their communities.
Recovery doesn't always mean "cured" in the way a broken bone heals. Sometimes it means learning to live well with the condition, like someone with diabetes managing their blood sugar. It means finding purpose, connection and hope even in the midst of struggle.
Why this myth is dangerous: It breeds hopelessness. When people believe they'll never get better, they stop trying, they stop going to therapy, they stop taking their medication and they may even stop living. This myth becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
What's next?
The above myths represent some of the most harmful misconceptions that keep our communities from getting the care they need and deserve. But myth-busting is not enough. We must replace these myths with knowledge, compassion and action.
Join our next community run — because movement breaks stigma.