As someone who suffers from mental illness, I understand how difficult those two aspects of friendship can be. As a result, becoming a "flaky" friend is one of the most serious concerns that may arise while dealing with mental health issues in a connection. Being a friend means being there for your friends when they need you the most. It also means listening to them talk about their problems and giving them advice when they ask for it. Finally, it means supporting them during good times and bad. But all these requirements can be very hard to fulfill if you have a mental illness, especially if you're not well-informed about these conditions. People with mental illnesses often experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, just to name a few. These symptoms can make it difficult for them to interact with others their own age who do not know about their condition. People with mental illnesses may feel uncomfortable around others because of the uncertainty they cause or the assumptions they make about the nature of their condition. Some may even feel ashamed or guilty due to misconceptions about what causes these conditions or stereotypes about how they should behave. However, despite all these difficulties, people with mental illnesses can still play an important role in the lives of those around them.