I agree, Cactus.
Combine that with the stigma that mental illness still has. I had an uncle, a non-blood related uncle, who had serious mental issues. Notice how I worded that in order to distance myself? Everyone does that to an extent.
Another problem is that a lot of people, unlike your friend, would never commit their child or their relative. And to top it, too many counselors are bound by a set of ethics that are archaic.