One in four people only discovered a friend's mental health problems when they were admitted to hospital, says a charity. The stigma of mental illness prevents people from getting all the support they need from friends, says the Mental Health Foundation.
Many people only find out a friend has problems when it is too late.
One in four people only discovered their friend's problem when they checked into a mental hospital. A further five per cent only became aware of problems when their friend tried to commit suicide. Now there are calls for more support for the mentally ill and their friends. The Mental Health Foundation now wants to see mental health education becoming part of the school curriculum from an early age to provide children with the skills and knowledge they need. They also want to see the National Carers' Strategy recognise the role of friends as carers and the Disability Rights Commission give priority to addressing discrimination in relation to people with mental health needs.