Mental health sufferers 'targeted by neighbours'

Nearly three quarters of those suffering from conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have been victimised in the community at least once in the past two years.

The report by the mental health charity Mind found that 41 per cent of respondents complained of persistent bullying, 27 per cent of sexual harassment and one in 10 of sexual assault.

Victims were called names, followed, pestered, chased, and had things thrown at them. Others were spat at, received prank calls and hate mail and some received death threats.

One support worker told Mind about a client who had been the victim of harassment, which culminated in his murder.

The study suggests that many crimes go unreported, with vulnerable adults feeling stigmatised by the police and legal system because of their illness.

Others complained of being told that "the police officer said that the client was probably imagining it or trying to get attention" or was "not seen as a credible witness".

Many crimes against distressed people were going unrecognised, Mind said. Of these, a third said that they felt that they would not be believed, while 60 per cent of those who did report a crime thought that the authorities failed to treat them seriously.

Mind chief executive Paul Farmer said: "Time and again we hear stories of people with mental health problems being discriminated against, but what we have uncovered here is evidence of bullying, harassment and victimisation on an alarming scale.

"People with mental distress feel unsafe in their own communities, unsafe in their own homes and have even come to expect harassment as part of living with mental distress.

"Victimisation of any group of people on this scale is unacceptable, and we need the Government to show that disability hate crime will not be tolerated.

"In an added blow, people with mental health problems are having to fight for justice when crimes are committed against them, as all too often, criminal justice agencies simply don't believe them.

"There is a huge education exercise to be done so that victims are treated seriously, and not automatically written off by the authorities who are meant to support them."

Earlier this year, courts in England and Wales were given the power to impose tougher sentences for people who commit offences that are motivated or aggravated by a victim's disability, including mental illness.