MORE than 80,000 people on the Fylde coast suffered mental health problems last year, it was revealed this week.

Problems ranging from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia and other psychoses affected around a quarter of the local population, with 10,000 calls made to a special mental health hot-line.

A report by the North-West Public Health Observatory shows that mental health services locally cost £18 million - £60 per head of population.

The small number of people suffering mental illness are likely to have poor general health as well, and problems may be made worse by drug or alcohol abuse.

Most people who take their own lives have suffered from some form of serious mental illness. With the area suffering one of the highest levels of mental health problems in the region, health chiefs have launched a campaign aimed at combating the stigma of mental health problems.

"This is one of the single biggest health issues on the Fylde Coast and it is growing," said Roberta Marshall, director of public health at Fylde Primary Care Trust.

"This is a serious issue, but one which can be tackled. There are a great many people who can be helped enormously, simply through reducing the stigma associated with mental illnesses.

"People will look after their physical health, but ignore, or fail to understand, their mental well-being.

"This is an everyday issue facing a great many people in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and we need to treat it like any other illness, with understanding and without stigma."

The Fylde Mental Health Helpline freephone number is 0500 639000.