In every ROVI workshop we run, we start with the same exercise. We ask students to share the first thing that comes to mind when they hear the words “mental health.” The responses are always revealing: “crazy,” “weak,” “Western,” “not real,” “possessed.”
These are not just words. They are beliefs — deeply held, culturally reinforced beliefs that prevent millions of young people from seeking the help they need. Every myth is a wall between a struggling student and the support that could change their life.
Today, we are dismantling those walls one by one.
"Mental health problems are a sign of weakness"
If you are struggling mentally, it means you are not strong enough. Real people, especially men, push through their problems without complaining.
Mental health challenges are not about strength or weakness. They are the result of complex interactions between genetics, brain chemistry, life experiences, and environment. A student experiencing anxiety is no weaker than a student with asthma — both have a condition that requires understanding and support. In fact, seeking help requires tremendous courage. The strongest people are often those brave enough to say “I need support.”
"Mental health is a Western concept that does not apply to Ethiopia"
Depression, anxiety, and mental illness are Western inventions. Ethiopian people are stronger than that. Our ancestors did not have these problems.
Mental health is a human concept, not a Western one. Every culture throughout history has recognized emotional distress — they have simply called it different things. In Ethiopian tradition, we have long acknowledged states like “ye-lib chigir” (heart problem) and “ye-ayimro hemam” (illness of the mind). What is new is not the experience, but the language and frameworks for discussing it openly. Our ancestors absolutely experienced these challenges — they just had no permission to name them.
"You just need to pray harder"
Mental health problems are spiritual problems. If your faith were stronger, you would not be struggling. Prayer alone can fix everything.
Faith and spirituality can be powerful sources of comfort and community — and many people find genuine support through their spiritual practices. But mental health conditions have biological, psychological, and social components that often require additional forms of support. Just as you would not rely solely on prayer to heal a broken leg, mental health challenges sometimes need counseling, peer support, or professional treatment alongside spiritual practices. The two are not mutually exclusive.
"Talking about your problems makes them worse"
The more you think and talk about your problems, the bigger they become. It is better to keep them inside and move on.
Research consistently shows the opposite. Suppressing emotions increases physiological stress, worsens symptoms over time, and leads to isolation. Talking about struggles in a safe environment — with a trusted friend, peer counselor, or professional — reduces their intensity. It is like releasing pressure from a valve: the feelings do not disappear, but they become manageable. Every peer counselor at ROVI has seen this transformation firsthand.
"Only ‘crazy’ people need mental health support"
Mental health help is only for people with severe conditions. If you can still go to school and function, you do not need support.
Mental health exists on a spectrum. Everyone has mental health, just as everyone has physical health. You do not need to be in a crisis to benefit from support. Talking to a peer counselor when you are stressed, learning coping strategies before you reach a breaking point, reading about emotional wellbeing — these are all forms of mental health care that prevent things from becoming worse. Waiting until you are unable to function is like waiting until you cannot walk to see a doctor about leg pain.
"Young people don't have real problems"
Students are too young to have mental health issues. They have food, shelter, and education — what could they possibly be stressed about?
Young people face enormous pressures: academic competition, family expectations, social dynamics, identity formation, hormonal changes, uncertain futures, and in many cases, economic hardship and family instability. The adolescent brain is still developing, making young people more vulnerable to stress and emotional dysregulation. Research shows that 50% of all mental health conditions begin by age 14. Dismissing youth struggles does not make them disappear — it makes them invisible.
“The most dangerous myth is not the one you believe in. It is the one you never question. When an entire culture agrees on a myth, questioning it feels like betrayal. But sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is ask: what if we have been wrong about this?”
Why These Myths Persist
Understanding why myths persist helps us dismantle them more effectively:
- Generational transmission: Each generation passes its beliefs to the next. If your parents grew up believing mental health was not real, that belief was passed to you — not through malice, but through cultural inheritance.
- Lack of education: Mental health is not taught in Ethiopian schools. Without formal education on the topic, myths fill the knowledge vacuum.
- Fear of the unknown: Mental health challenges are invisible and poorly understood. What we do not understand, we tend to fear and stigmatize.
- Protective function: Some myths serve a protective purpose. Believing that mental health is not real means you do not have to confront uncomfortable truths about suffering in your family or community.
- Limited access to mental health professionals: Ethiopia has approximately 1 psychiatrist per 2 million people. When professional support is virtually nonexistent, myths about not needing such support are easier to maintain.
What You Can Do
Next time you hear one of these myths, gently offer the truth. You do not need to argue or lecture. Sometimes a simple “I used to think that too, but I learned something different” is enough to plant a seed. Change happens one conversation at a time.
The Power of Accurate Information
Every myth we dismantle creates space for someone to seek help. Every fact we share gives someone permission to take their own pain seriously. This is not abstract — we have seen it happen.
In our workshops, after going through these myths and facts, there is always a moment when the room shifts. Students who walked in with arms crossed start leaning forward. Hands go up. Someone says: “I always thought I was just being weak. You mean this is actually… a real thing?”
Yes. It is a real thing. And you deserve real support.
“Myths do not just exist in the air. They live in the silence between conversations we are afraid to have. The moment we start talking honestly, myths begin to dissolve.”
Want to learn more about mental health? Explore our blog or reach out to ROVI with any questions. No question is too small or too basic.
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