I have had bouts of depression in the past, so I understood the problem when my friend became depressed.One thing about her I do not understand. She wants to be with people all the time when she is feeling bad, whereas I like to hide myself away, preferably in bed. My friend decided she couldn't cope at home any more and got herself admitted to hospital. She was taken to a hospital 30 miles away which was not very suitable because the patients there were suffering from dementia. After four days she was moved to a centre much nearer home. The problem is in England that care in the community (that is, at home) is now the norm and there are very few hospital places for mental health patients.Sometimes a patient wants to stop the world and get off. It is at such times that hospital admission is needed. The old Victorian psychiatric hospitals were often not the best solution, but things have swung too far. Presumably care in the community is a cheaper option. I hope to visit ...