What are the issues for people affected by mental health problems ?
Many people with mental health difficulties will never need to seek services and supports, but for those of us who will, our future, and that of our children and families, will depend on the right help being available when we need it. With the right help, people can recover. At the moment, this is not what many people around the country are encountering when they reach out for support.
People with mental health problems are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, since the nature of these problems often means they are recurring. People who experience mental health difficulties are more likely to end up socially and economically disadvantaged, to rely on state benefits, and have difficulty gaining adequate supported housing and employment. Absence from work can lead to unemployment – which in turn means both a loss of income and also loss of a social network and access to the wider social world. Loss of income can lead to debt and even homelessness. Furthermore, the myths and misconceptions associated with mental health problems negatively affect the day-to-day lives of people, leading to discrimination.