People with mental health problems gain more help from friends than GPs, claims Mental Health Foundation

Nearly half of people with mental health problems receive more help from their friends than from their GPs and own families, according to a survey by the Mental Health Foundation published today.

The survey also found that two in five friends of those with mental health problems felt they did not know where to get information on mental health to help them offer better support.

Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said the survey of over 500 people showed that a lack of good quality and consistent information was hampering people from offering better support to their friends.

“It is essential they receive the right help and advice from professionals to enable them to do this. Providing support to friends can be a highly cost effective way of helping people with mental health problems recover,” he said.

The survey, “A Two Way Street,” of over 500 people across the UK, is being published to mark the start of mental health action week, that runs until 14 April.

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