MORE than 60 new cases of a serious mental health condition are diagnosed in Worcestershire every year, according to estimates.

Now Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust is trying to raise awareness of psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, for World Mental Health Day.

The trust estimates that three per cent of Worcestershire people have some form of psychosis - the "umbrella term" for a group of mental health problems which include schizophrenia.

One Worcestershire sufferer - named only as "Peter" - believes that strangers who walk past him in the street "have it in for him" and he receives coded messages through the TV or newspapers.

He has to plan his day meticulously, so that he completes his chores by lunchtime, when the illness "finds its voice again".

Peter was first diagnosed with a mental health problem as a teenager and is now aged in his 30s.

He is supported by the Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust through its community-based mental health teams.

He has also spent time on mental health wards.

Staff have helped him to redecorate his bedroom to make it a more relaxing place because he had previously struggled to sleep in his room, feeling "safer" on the living room couch.

When he is under the "dark and heavy cloud of schizophrenia", he is unable to eat, cook, read or interact with anyone - and his only relief is his earphones, to hear his favourite songs to drown out the other voices invading his thoughts.

“It’s like a storm, you just wait it out until it passes," said Peter.

World Mental Health Day is focusing upon schizophrenia - a condition that Rethink, the mental health charity, says affects one in 100 people.

Dr Tom Barker, clinical psychologist at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: "We know that treatment is most effective if provided in a timely manner and for this reason it is essential that we have an Early Intervention for Psychosis Service, which works with young people (between the ages of 14 and 35) in their first episode of psychosis."

The trust recently introduced "peer support workers", who have themselves lived with mental health difficulties and have now been trained to support others to recover.

Their role is part of a programme called the "Big Recovery".

Anyone who thinks they have a mental health problem should first see their GP and more information is available at www.hacw.nhs.uk/mentalhealthmonth