For those who feel attacked, i think what is important in this discussion is not what is right and wrong but the question of what we can do for ourselves and what we need help with. This post brought to mind some of my feelings about depending on my Mum. I feel a bit guilty that she does so much for me. She cooks and lends me money as i don't have a job, does my washing and is also there to support me emotionally. She often drives me places too as i do not drive. Hopefully i will learn to take on more responsibilities as my illness improves. I felt for a while that i was never going to be able to do some of these things, but that might not be so. I think it is ok for those with a mental illness, and even those without an illness to depend apon others. We need others, we cannot do things by ourselves.