People with mental health problems say that the social stigma attached to mental ill health and the discrimination they experience can make their difficulties worse and make it harder to recover.
Mental illness is common. It affects thousands of people in Ireland, and their friends, families, work colleagues and society in general.
- One in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.
- Around one in ten children experience mental health problems.
- Depression affects around one in 12 of the whole population.
- 450 million people world-wide have a mental health problem.
Most people who experience mental health problems recover fully, or are able to live with and manage them, especially if they get help early on.