East Midlands
New research shows people in the East Midlands fear opening up to friends about mental health. But friendships can be vital when coping with mental illness.
People in the East Midlands worry about what friends will think…
The majority of people who did not want friends to know about their mental health problem said it because they were ashamed (62 per cent), did not think their friend would understand (62 per cent) and did not wish to be labelled (54 per cent)
Over half (57 per cent) chose to talk to a family member or doctor about their mental health problem before turning to friends
Yet friends can help provide support…
61 per cent of people with mental health problem said that when their friends did find out, they were concerned
Less than half offered support (43 per cent)
Over half of the people surveyed said that when they found out about their friend’s mental health problem the friendship was not put under strain (57 per cent)
Seven out of ten people said that it helps to have friends around when experiencing a mental illness (71 per cent)
But sometimes, friends need support too…
43 per cent of those in the East Midlands said they did not know enough about mental health to offer help
Three in four admitted to feeling frustrated because there was no simple solution to their friend’s mental health problem (74 per cent).
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East of England
New research shows people in the East of England fear opening up to friends about mental health. But friendships can be vital when coping with mental illness
People living in the East worry about what friends think…
Many of the respondents who did not want friends to know about their mental health problem said it was because they were ashamed (45 per cent), did not want to appear weak (55 per cent) and that talking about their problems made them too upset (45 per cent)
Over half chose to confide in a doctor or family member about their mental health problem, before turning to friends (57 per cent)
Yet friends can help provide support…
Reassuringly, people with mental health problems reported that when friends did find out about their mental illness, the many expressed concern (57 percent) but only a third offered support (30 per cent)
60 per cent of those with experience of mental ill health believe that in times of mental distress, it helps to have friends around
But sometimes, friends need support too…
Half of those surveyed said that they know enough about mental health to be able to provide support to their friends (57 per cent)
Yet the same number admitted feeling frustrated because there was no simple solution to their friend’s illness (57 per cent)
Nine out of 10 said that the opportunity to ask the advice of a professional (88 per cent) about their friend’s mental illness would have helped them to support their friend better
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London
New research shows Londoners fear opening up to friends about mental health. But friendships can be vital when coping with mental illness.
Londoners worry about what friends think…
More than half of the respondents who did not want friends to know about their mental health problem said it was because they were ashamed of what friends may think (57 per cent)
Another 57 per cent did not want to appear weak
54 per cent did not want to be labelled
Sometimes, friends can feel helpless…
One in four Londoners said that when they found out about a friend’s mental health problem, they felt helpless (24 per cent)
Three in four admitted feeling frustrated because there was no simple solution to their friend’s mental illness (73 per cent)
More than a third of people felt that their friendship was put under strain (39 per cent)
How friends reacted to mental illness…
Londoners who had experienced a mental health problem said that when their friends found out about their illness, a third did not understand (33 per cent)
Only one fifth (21 per cent) found their mental ill health difficult to accept
Two out of three Londoners said that it helped to have friends around when experiencing a mental health problem (66 per cent)
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