Editor,
A month or so ago, you were criticized for your “inappropriate” coverage of the death of a student. Letter writers expressed their disagreement with some of the details in your column.
The only way we can help these people who find life difficult and useless is to know their problems, so that suicide or other drastic measures won’t be taken. When my son was found living in Popejoy Hall, I immediately called KOB-TV and reported his condition.
Today, he is still homeless, paranoid schizophrenic, severely depressed and dealing with great losses: mental, physical, domestic, employment-related. So many of these difficulties could have been prevented had someone who was aware of his dire circumstances only sought help for him early on.
It is now time for us to be more intentional in our aid and care for the mentally ill, and to refrain from attaching secrecy and stigma to mental illnesses. I need people to know about my son’s condition, so that perhaps he will someday seek the help he so desperately needs.
Mary E. Woods
Daily Lobo reader
