COMMON MENTAL HEALTH RELATED PROBLEMS IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS A significant barrier to high quality care for people experiencing a mental illness, in all contexts, is stigma and discrimination. Negative labelling is more likely to occur in hospital settings, as patients with mental illness often exhibit behaviour inconsistent with the traditional ‘sick role’ (Sharrock and Happell 2000). Implications of negative labelling include the continuation of problem behaviours and occasional extreme efforts by staff to control them (Trexler 1996). So called difficult patients run the risk of being neglected or abused (Mott and Kingsley 1999; Bridges-Parlet et al 1994). In light of this, common myths and misconceptions must be dispelled and positive attitudes fostered, particularly among health professionals and workers (World Health Organisation 2001).