Mental illness ‘hidden by 75%’

THREE-quarters of people with mental health issues do not tell their employer fearing they will be stigmatised, isolated or lose their job.

Those with mental health issues, particularly depression and schizophrenia, also find it virtually impossible to get mortgages, holiday insurance or bank loans, a conference on tackling mental health stigma heard in Waterford yesterday.

“People with mental illnesses have been put out, hidden away from the community,” said Samaritans PRO Avril Halley. “We need to include these people in the community. The stigma which surrounds mental illness does huge damage to sufferers.