It’s 2025! Yes, you read that right. We are well into the new year and it is more important than ever
to understand and talk about common misconceptions and myths about mental health and related issues. With TikTok and Instagram and various other avenues for learning and getting information these days, it’s crucial to know what’s fact and what’s misinformation.
In the last year alone, 39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth. For these young people, and all teens, misinformation and harmful myths about mental health can make it harder for them to get the support they really need. The widespread misconceptions about mental health is especially damaging for vulnerable populations, like LGBTQ+ youth.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common mental health myths and challenge them with truth and reliable sources. Readers, I encourage you as you go through these myths, to reflect on your own assumptions and possible areas of bias when it comes to mental health. We are all influenced, not only by the media and information we consume regularly, but also our own experiences, our families of origin, and where we live and interact with others in society.
Myth #1: Mental health issues are a sign of weakness.
This myth is especially harmful because it often prevents individuals from getting help, especially among the LGBTQ+ community. We know that 66% of LGBTQ+ young adults report experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 53% report struggling with depression (PrairieCare, 2024). The belief that these struggles are a sign of weakness, will only keep individuals isolated and suffering.
Mental health issues have nothing to do with being lazy or weak. The majority of individuals living with a mental health condition are productive, contributing, and active members of society. There are numerous factors that play into a person’s own mental health conditions including:
- Genetic make-up and biological factors
- Brain chemistry
- Physical illness or injury
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health conditions
Individuals struggling with a mental health condition will benefit from a supportive, affirming support system and environment to not only better understand their struggles, but to also learn effective ways for coping.
Myth #2: People with mental illnesses are violent and dangerous.
According to SAMSHA, most people with mental health conditions are no more likely to be violent than anyone
else. In reality, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more likely to be victims of a violent crime than the general population (SAMSHA, 2023). Moreover, 49% of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-17 reported being bullied in the past year, and those who did reported significantly higher rates of attempting suicide than those who were not victims of bullying (The Trevor Project, 2024).
This stereotype is damaging and harmful for individuals struggling with mental health conditions.
Advocacy and support groups for young people, like Genders & Sexualities Alliances (GSAs), can be especially helpful in debunking common myths and stereotypes like this in schools.
Myth #3: You can just ‘snap out of’ depression or anxiety.
This is one of the most frustrating myths to hear, especially if you are someone actively struggling with depression or anxiety. Wouldn’t it be nice to just “snap out” of your low mood or anxious state? Anyone with these struggles and all mental health professionals, know you cannot just “snap out of” depressive and anxious symptoms. This belief can lead to individuals feeling guilt and shame for not being able to “get better on their own” (Mental Health America).
This myth perpetuates the previously mentioned belief that mental health issues are a sign of weakness. It is important to remember that there are many different factors that impact someone’s experience with depression and/or anxiety.
We know that over half of LGBTQ+ youth experience and report symptoms of depression (The Trevor Project, 2024). Myths like these block and hinder their ability to get the necessary help they need, including individual therapy, support groups, and medication when appropriate. Oftentimes young people in my therapy office report improvement in their symptoms from the therapeutic skills they learn in addition to simply having a safe, validating space to share their emotions authentically.
Myth #4: Therapy and medication don’t work.
I have countless personal accounts of individuals sitting in my office who can directly debunk this myth.
Individuals seeking support through therapy and medication have shared stories about learning more about who they really are, being able to work through anxiety that was once crippling and limiting, and feeling hopeful and creating a life worth living after years of chronic depression. I have seen it with my own eyes.
But if that’s not enough, there are endless studies and data that support just the opposite…therapy and medication do in fact work and even save lives. SAMSHA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shares that 1 in 5 adults in the US will experience some sort of mental health disorder. Furthermore, data collected from NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, informs us that 1 in 6 youth, ages 6-17, experience a mental health disorder each year and suicide is the 2nd leader cause of death among 10-14 year olds.
Psychiatric medications can help influence the brain chemicals that regulate emotions and thought patterns. These medications are even more effective when paired with psychotherapy in some form.
This myth is harmful and must be challenged because it can keep individuals, especially young people in the LGBTQ+ community, from getting the care they need, and can prolong suffering in people’s lives (NAMI, 2025).
Myth #5: Talking about suicide will make someone suicidal.
Unfortunately, this myth is the exact opposite of the truth for most individuals suffering with suicidal thoughts or intentions. Thoughts and emotions we leave hidden in the dark, often only grow stronger and more intense, if not just remain the same. A vital aspect to helping someone struggling with thoughts of suicide is to provide a safe space to talk openly and compassionately about it.
This is why hotlines and 24/7 chats so widely exist, because they truly help when individuals are struggling. Talking about their struggle with suicidal thoughts or feelings is not the only aspect in helping someone, but it is often the first step to begin the healing journey to address their struggles.
Myth #6: Only people with ‘serious’ problems need therapy.
This is another false and very isolating misconception that I see many people believing. Surprise! Even your therapist has a therapist! That’s because therapy can be “beneficial for anyone, regardless of the severity of their challenges” (APA, date).
I have worked with many clients who put off starting therapy because of this belief and they almost always report wishing they had started sooner.
A shocking 84% of LGBTQ+ youth reported wanting therapy and mental healthcare, but 50% were unable to access any services (PrairieCare, 2024). These statistics are why Sentier has accessible support groups and other resources for LGBTQ+ young people.
Therapy can be a safe space to explore any issue…big or small! From anxiety to depression, to gender and sexuality exploration, to conflict resolution and relationship problems. Therapy is for everyone! For most, making that first phone call or taking that first step into the office is the hardest part.
Myth #7: Gay or transgender people are mentally ill.
This belief is outdated and deeply harmful. It contributes to discrimination that we know LGBTQ+ individuals face often on a micro and macro level.
It is important to understand that LGBTQ+ young people are not inherently prone to higher risks of mental health struggles but rather are placed at a higher risk due to stigma and discrimination in our society (Healthline, 2024).
Look around. With all of the recent political and societal attacks on individuals’ sexuality and gender rights, it’s no wonder 90% of LGBTQ+ young people reported their well-being was “negatively impacted” due to recent politics (Healthline, 2024). Challenging this myth either in your own self or when you hear it being perpetuated by others, is crucial and needed in today’s climate.
Myth #8: Being transgender is a phase.
This myth is untrue and completely invalidates a person’s identity and lived experience, which can increase the risk for mental health struggles, especially among young people. (GLAAD.org).
Gender is defined as a “deeply held sense of self” and telling someone that their true, authentic sense of self is “a phase” is wrong and harmful.
Gender identity is a person’s internal sense of being a man or woman, and for many individuals, their gender identity does not fit into these two categories. Transgender people’s sex assigned at birth and their own personal gender identity do not match. (GLAAD, 2025). Individuals in the transgender community may use a variety of terms to describe themselves, such as transgender, transsexual, nonbinary, and others.
Unfortunately, in our society (past and present), transgender individuals who feel a dissonance with their gender identity, often take great risks to disclose their true, authentic selves to others in their lives. Transgender people risk being judged or not accepted by their loved ones, harassment at school or work, and discrimination in various public spheres. This decision and sense of true self is not a phase and should be honored and valued.
Challenging this myth is crucial in ensuring that transgender people get the support, care, and resources they deserve and need to live healthy and safe lives.
Take Action
As you read through the various myths about mental health and reflect on your own journey, I encourage and ask you to speak out and share the truth when you hear misinformation.
If you are reading this and feel stuck in your own journey in getting support due to the impact of these myths,
please know you are not alone, and there are individuals and organizations who want to help. Remember, that reaching out when we need help actually demonstrates great strength and vulnerability…and is never a sign of weakness.
Here are some supportive and reliable organizations you can reach out to today:
- The Trevor Project
- NAMI
- Transforming Families
- MN Transgender Health Coalition
Blog written by Sentier therapist Tana Welter, MSW, LICSW
Sources:
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). (2025). Transgender FAQ. https://glaad.org/transgender/transfaq/
Mastroianni, B. (2024, May 1). Political Attacks, Bullying Among Biggest Factors Taking a Toll on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/lgbtq-youth-mental-health-2024#How-minority-stress-can-increase-health-risks
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Mental Health By the Numbers. https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/
PrairieCare. (2024, June 4). LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health: New Research and Statistics. https://prairie-care.com/resources/type/blog/lgbtq-youth-statistics/
The Trevor Project. (2024) . 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/assets/static/TTP_2024_National_Survey.pdf
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). (2022, September 15). Standards of Care Version 8. https://wpath.org/publications/soc8/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
