A new friendship support group has been launched by the Hearing Voices Network specifically for people who hear voices, hallucinate or have disturbing belief systems.

The free group meets on the last Thursday of the month from 11am at Richmond Library Annexe.

It gives those who experience auditory hallucinations the opportunity to meet, learn coping strategies and build confidence.

Most people have had at least one experience of hearing a voice when there was no one around them, and it’s not always a sign of mental illness.

Hearing Voices said one study found only around 25 per cent of people who hear voices also have a psychotic disorder.