Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company
The Boston
Globe
December 16, 1999, Thursday ,THIRD EDITION
SECTION: LETTERS; Pg. A22
LENGTH: 166 words
HEADLINE:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR;
ENDING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS
BODY:
Hooray for Harvard University and the surgeon
general for taking steps to end the stigma surrounding mental
illness and for trying to bring treatment of this disease into the mainstream of
health care ("Surgeon general urges parity
with physical illness," Page A10, Dec. 14).
Almost every day I see or
hear from people who are either struggling with this illness or being victimized
by the stigma or both. I speak with people who are afraid to seek treatment out
of fear of ridicule, social isolation, or loss of employment. This is a tragedy,
because for most people treatment works. The surgeon
general's report and the effort by Harvard University to provide mental health
services for its students are important steps to help society understand that
mental illness is a disease, not a character flaw, and that people with mental
illness need treatment and support, not isolation and scorn.
BONNIE J.
TWOMEY
Public policy associate Mass. Association for Mental Health
Boston
LOAD-DATE: December 17, 1999
