Áine Tubridy

We have all heard the heroic stories of fund-raising activities for sick children needing urgent operations. There is no danger of being stigmatised and shunned. But whoever heard of a sponsored walk for ‘Johnny the schizophrenic’, who needs a safe space and hours of specialised one-to-one and group therapy?

Those who can’t quickly pull themselves together are thought to be spineless, weak, unco-operative and lazy — in a culture where success and achievement are venerated, who wants to be any of these?

Well-meaning suggestions are laced with judgements and advice. They imply that with enough ‘willpower’ and ‘backbone’ it is possible to summon up the necessary strength to overcome the problem.