Inaccurate, unfair view of mental illness

This in response to the Daily Herald editorial of Feb. 28 entitled "Programs have failed mentally ill," by Walter E. Williams. Mr. Williams, I was appalled by your column, which used outdated perceptions of mental illness to vilify liberals. You painted the mentally ill with the same broad brush that black Americans were painted with in the 1960s. You labeled those with no-fault brain illnesses as "nuisances." Were you at a loss for subject matter that day?

Mental illness involves bipartisan effort. Conservatives are not immune. In your poor attempt to attack liberals, you conveniently neglected to regale us with a list of Republican accomplishments in this area.

You blamed liberals for closing mental institutions, alleging that they were safe, effective alternatives to prison. These institutions of long ago were far worse than any prisons. Once closed, you then made it appear as if hordes of dangerous mentally ill people roamed the countryside, with the public left to "put up with the behavior."

You say, "Many innocent people have been assaulted, robbed and murdered by mentally ill people." Being a gentleman of color, how would you feel if the word "black" were substituted for the word "mentally ill" in that sentence?

That stigma is exactly what you have imparted on people like my daughter, who triumphed over mental illness, with the help of medicine, therapy and family.

Mr. Williams, the blame is on all who fail to realize that mental illness is biological, like cancer or heart disease.

We need to shine a bright light on what these illnesses are and focus less on who to blame it on. Hiding folks away in institutions so they won't annoy us never was a viable option.

For accurate information on what mental illness is and more importantly, what it is not, please visit The National Alliance on Mental Illness at nami.org.

Louis S. Guagenti

Arlington Heights