SIGN of the TIMES:Mental illness 'touches us all'

MENTAL illness touches the lives of almost every Australian,according to a report that reveals the condition affects 85 per cent of the population either directly or through the suffering of a friend or relative.The major new report by Christian charity the Wesley Mission also suggests more people than previously thought-up to 36% of the community- may also have direct experience of a mental health problem.Previous estimates had put the figure at 20 per cent.Despite the higher prevalence,
significant stigma continues to dog people with more serious mental illnesses,such as schizophrenia.The report released yesterday made 21
recommendations for improving understanding of mental illness and the lot of people experiencing mental problems."Mental illness remains a taboo subject for many people,although it touches the lives of most Australians,"said Wesley Mission superintendent Keith Garner.
"Despite much public discussion and the advocacy of high-profile figures sharing their personal experiences ... there is still a clear reluctance in the community to trust individuals with a mental illness in decision-making roles or in roles where reliability is paramount."Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Centre in Sydney, who wrote a foreword to the report and attended yesterday's launch, said it was significant that there was continued public fear of people with conditions such as schizophrenia, which reflected the difficulty such patients had in getting adequate treatment....
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