I WAS pleased to see that you published a long article about schizophrenia yesterday.

There is still so much ignorance about this illness and it cannot be stated too often that sufferers are very unlikely to harm anyone other than themselves.

As the charity Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship) says: the three biggest mental health problems are prejudice, ignorance and fear.

I'd like to see more articles in your paper which help to challenge these attitudes and highlight the lack of support for services which alleviate the suffering of people like Steve and his family who were so supportive in his illness and his recovery.

As the mental health carers' support worker with Focus, the local Princess Royal Trust Centre for Carers, I hear only too often how much prejudice, ignorance and fear can affect not only those who are ill but also those who care for them.

A big thank you to Steve Holmes for having the courage to speak out about his own experiences.

Alan Bradley

Focus

Swindon