I have a friend who was recently in a pshychiatric hospital...?

People with mental illness are five times more likely to be the victim of abuse, while only having a similar rate of violence as the general population. Be her friend. There have been some tragic events that were at the hands of individuals with mental illness (as well as the sane), and most of them did not have a support system of family and friends. Also, many mental disorders have co-morbid (additional) disorders such as Autism, Asperger's, OCT. . . etc.