Care for mental health

SIR – Sadly the mental health difficulties faced by Gillian Anderson, the actress, and Marian Keyes, the author (report, March 12), are far from uncommon.

I am very close to someone in their forties who is frequently debilitated by bouts of depression for days or weeks.

Although the mental health system claims to recognise such problems, it seems to apply a two-strikes-and-you’re-out rule when specialist appointments are missed. The patient’s name is removed from the list so that they have to start all over again at their GP. Yet this is the very time that help is needed.

It is like suggesting that someone who has just broken a leg falling off their bike should walk into A&E. David Barnes London N10