The Editor, Sir:

As a mental health professional and executive director for the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission, I was pleased to read your article addressing the stigma associated with mental illness. In the USA, many years ago families struggling with issues of understanding mental illness formed community-based support groups known nationally as NAMI, National Alliance for Mental Illness - www.nami.org.

It is a terrifying disease, if it is not understood. I have two siblings who are paranoid schizophrenic. Both began to manifest symptoms after trauma. My sister's husband left her with three children. My other sister became homeless, dropped out of school and could not take care of her only child. We now know that schizophrenia is genetic like heart disease, diabetes and a host of other diseases.

A curse

Many families continue to believe the myth that mental illness is a curse and stems from demon possession. When my eldest sister began to have symptoms, my mother did the only thing she knew - pray and take her to the church to have the demons exorcised! Finally, after numerous hospitalisations, sleepless nights and my sister running away, our family embraced the facts.

Yes, it is extremely difficult to say I cannot help my loved one. This is the hopelessness that drives families into seclusion, shame and blame.

When properly diagnosed and treated, mental illness does not have to be a lifetime sentence of despair. Where there is hope, there is recovery. Where there is recovery, there is wellness. Where there is wellness, there is healing.

I am, etc.,

TERRY LEWIS

tlewis@lacdmh.org

550 South Vermont Avenue

LA, California