WAS privileged to have had free access last Saturday to behold the wonders of World Mental Health Day in Golden Square. What a washout! As a mental health 'survivor' and psychiatric patient of a former great British institution 'up the road,' let me, first and foremost, declare that 'mental illness' is a myth, that community care is especially condescending, patronising and superimpositional and that so-called 'mentally ill' persons are not all stupid, ignorant and 'thick.'

"OK, but we know this," say the families, the mental health professionals and the survivors themselves but who do they think they are conning? Let's face it, mental health (let alone illness) is a 'no go' area as witnessed by the very poor attendances at the festival. The stigma is real, the myth is real and the ignorance of both families and professionals is real.

I have done voluntary work in mental health for over 15 years and all I can say is you haven't a clue. If you have never experienced it, the suffering is real, the stigma is real and the issues are real but what is needed is a real understanding of, experience and valid reactions to abnormal situations. I have nothing against any individual but a new era is called for where mentally ill people can have autonomy, freedom and control of their own lives away from the intrusion and interference of doctors, psychiatrists, professionals and families.

PAUL RICE

Director - New EALA Project MCMXCIX

Crosfield Street

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.