Half of Irish people would want to keep their mental health problems a secret

One in two people wouldn't want anyone to know they were experiencing mental health problems.

That's according to a new survey by First Fortnight - a mental health arts festival that begins in Dublin on New Year's Day.

49 percent of respondents also expressed a fear they would experience mental health problems in the future, while a quarter said they would delay seeking treatment for fear this may lead to others finding out about their mental health problem.

However, there was a 5 percent increase in people who believe in mental health recovery.