18.1  Raising awareness about mental health

Mental illness is often a hidden problem in the community because people don’t know much about mental illness and so they don’t notice it. They may also be frightened by mental illness and ashamed if a family member has symptoms of mental illness, and consequently hide away people who are affected by these problems. One of the most important things that you can do to help people with mental illness is to increase awareness and understanding in the communities where you live and work.