> If you had cancer, everyone would be there to support you. If you have a mental illness, there's not much chance of getting support from peers

Because most people have no clue what to do about psychological illness, are afraid of doing more harm than good (not wrongly) and have pathology of their own that they're having trouble dealing with. And if mental illness as tied to family dysfunction as I think, then the people who would most want to help you are those you should trust the least to do so.