Lesson Two - Biases and Stereotypes of Mental Health
| Site: | MoodleHUB.ca đ |
| Course: | Mental Health & Wellness [1 cr] - AB Ed copy 1 |
| Book: | Lesson Two - Biases and Stereotypes of Mental Health |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Sunday, 7 September 2025, 6:43 PM |
Information
Information
- This lesson is designed to take approximately 1 hour.
- You have the following tasks and assignments to complete in this lesson.
- Read all Lesson 2 content, including videos, supplementary links, etc.
Lesson Outcomes
- Name biases and stereotypes about mental health
- Define terms that are related to mental health
Introduction
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With the increased awareness of mental health, there has unfortunately been an increase with biases and stereotypes surrounding the topic.
According to dictionary.com, a bias is âunreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudiceâ, and a stereotype is âa simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a groupâ. Putting these two definitions together, a person could have a very simplified idea of what mental health is and be unfairly opposed to the idea of mental health because of this simplified version of ideas.
According to dictionary.com, a bias is âunreasonably hostile feelings or opinions about a social group; prejudiceâ, and a stereotype is âa simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a groupâ. Putting these two definitions together, a person could have a very simplified idea of what mental health is and be unfairly opposed to the idea of mental health because of this simplified version of ideas.
Oftentimes, people are unaware that they have misinformation or a simplified or standardized version of thinking. Information mostly comes from the internet or social media, and few of these have been verified with credible people or institutions
for accuracy. Some information may look shocking and will be tempting to re-post on social media, but it is everyoneâs duty to make sure that the material is true. Read this article about how the media sensationalizes mental health, and be more aware of the next time you want to share something health related.
Watch
Dr. Mike, who has a great opinion on the media and mental health!
Biases and Stereotypes
Biases and stereotypes often come from myths. There are many myths about mental health that are just thatâmyths. However, everyone has mental health and most likely know someone who is living with a mental illness or who has experienced a mental
illness at some point. Even with this sort of connection, there are still plenty of negative myths surrounding mental health and illness.
Take a look at the following website to see the most common myths in Canada and how they are debunked!
Take a look at the following website to see the most common myths in Canada and how they are debunked!
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Another way that biases and stereotypes are spread is through outdated terminology. Terms surrounding mental health and illness are often changing in order to be more socially accepting and less offensive. The Canadian Mental Health Association has a short list that is by no means comprehensive, but it will show you the more socially accepted terminology to use when discussing mental health. Try to keep in mind what words you are using next time you are talking about mental health.
To learn more about the common misconceptions of mental health, go to Mental Health Myths and Facts!
Key Terms in Mental Health
By now you might be wondering what the difference is between mental health and mental illness. It might seem like they can be used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things.
Mental healthrefers to how well we are mentally. This includes our emotions, thoughts, problem solving abilities, social network, and how we understand the world around us.
A mental illness is something that affects how someone thinks, feels, behaves, or interacts with other people. A mental illness is something that a professional needs to diagnose. It is important to never self-diagnose a mental illness.
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There are many different mental illnesses, with each having multiple symptoms, which means not every mental illness looks the same with every person. One person might have a certain set of symptoms, while someone else with the same mental illness does
not exhibit those symptoms.
An important detail to remember, however, is that a person can have poor mental health without having a mental illness. People can feel stressed or down, but not have depression; some days are just more difficult than others and mental health really depends on coping strategies in these difficult times.
An important detail to remember, however, is that a person can have poor mental health without having a mental illness. People can feel stressed or down, but not have depression; some days are just more difficult than others and mental health really depends on coping strategies in these difficult times.
Key Terms in Mental Health (con't)
Now that we have made the distinction between mental health and mental illness, letâs move onto other fundamental terms that are related to mental health. This list is not comprehensive but is meant to give you a sense of the diversity of mental health. If you need to look up individual terms, make sure to check out the glossary!
Click each collapsible row for more information.
Is an eating disorder that involves periodic episodes of overeating that are followed by episodes of âpurgingâ the food, such as induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, and excessive exercising.
Is a disorder characterized by deliberate weight loss. This disorder is mainly characterized by refusing to eat and maintain a normal body weight, an abnormal fear of gaining weight, and a troubled perception of body image.
Is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impaired social interactions as well as verbal and non-verbal communication.
Is a type of mood disorder where symptoms change from mania to depression and back again.
Is a developmental disability that is characterized by mild to profound constraints concerning cognitive functioning and ability to adapt.
Is excessive anxiety and worrying about a range of topics that is accompanied by common anxiety symptoms.
Is a chemical in the body that sends messages to control or regulate the activity of certain cells or organs in the body.
Refers to any intervention that is offered in a public, private, outpatient, or inpatient setting in order to maintain or treat the mental health of an individual or group.
Is a disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that motivate a person to complete neutralizing rituals or compulsions. The compulsions are recognized as unreasonable by the individual, and can be quite time-consuming and disruptive to the personâs
life.
Is a disorder that may develop when an individual is directly or indirectly involved in a traumatic event where the person believes that there is a safety threat to themselves.
Is a psychotic disorder that is characterized by disturbances in thinking, emotions, and behaviour. The main symptoms are hallucinations and delusions.
All definitions on page - American Psychological Association (APA)
To see the complete dictionary that the American Psychological Association has for mental illnesses, visit the website.