I work with people with mental disabilities on a daily basis (im a support worker trained in this field to work with depressives, schizophrenics etc)...OK there are some scary people out there and some scary shit doesnt half go on on some wards of mental hospitals

BUT, a high majority of them are pretty much normal! One of the lasses im supporting at this moment was in prison for petty shoplifting and drug offences etc, was classed as a mild schizophrenic and also told she was depressed was in hospital for about a year then in residential care...now shes back in her own flat and to sit with her in the pub nobody would be any the wiser!!

Have just got her onto self medicating this past week acctually (was a case of sending a carer in to administer the medication previously) however she is now pretty much self sufficient just had a meeting with me on a weekly basis and then one with her cpn every fortnight

Agree that it is far more widespread than many people anticipate however...My ex g/fs mum used to suffer from it but could you hell tell...