Never worked with one as a peer/co-worker thankfully as my job field isn't something easily jumped into for the mentally ill but I have had the displeasure on numerous occasions on having to work alongside and/or technically for them to settle disputes and other issues.
Generally leaves a disgusting and awkward feeling afterwards but I've come to appreciate societies wide spread acceptance of mental illness as I get older. I like to think of it as this way, people were mentally ill (I hope) to the same degree they were years ago. It's just now instead of hiding it below the surface they're "out and proud" with it. So in my eyes, you have two realities. One where everyone is a walking talking landmine of psychotic behavioral/personality traits and they're hiding it, or what we have now where the mentally ill have a sort of self outing mechanism that makes them scream to the world "I am mentally unwell, avoid me." Much like the danger hair meme.
Granted I do believe asylums closing is a terrible hit to society along with the agreed belief that perhaps the number of mental illnesses in society are increasing, but I will hold firm on the ideal that having a way for them to, in their eyes, express themselves at least gives normal individuals a chance to avoid them like the plague.
I much rather have the psycho have blue dyed hair and a bull nose ring so anyone I care about can avoid them on sight, versus a buffalo bill scenario where they keep it hidden along with skinned women in their basement. The only issue is the preferential treatment they receive.