Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Re “Open This Door Slowly,� editorial, May 7:

The statements in this editorial indicate misunderstanding of the costs of mental illness--to the sufferer and to society. Both bipolar II and bipolar I may involve severe and life-threatening depressions, and both “cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.� And both forms are treatable. They vary only in that the manic phase is less severe.

The consequences to a family in which a hypomanic spouse bankrupts the family through irrational financial deals or loses jobs through impulsive fights with colleagues, or any of the manifestations of hypomania, are often just as costly and disruptive as more severe and delusional manic states.

As for opening the door slowly, it seems to me society has discriminated against people with these no-fault diseases far too long. This attitude has destroyed lives, perpetuated stigma, resulted in 200,000 homeless mentally ill persons across our great nation, and led to the criminalization of untreated victims of these illnesses. It is far more economical and humane to provide treatment.

JUNE R. HUSTED

Member, California Alliance

for the Mentally Ill

Rancho Palos Verdes

I quite agree with your editorial. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on insurance claims for a variety of mental illnesses.

My daughter suffered postpartum depression 10 years ago. After eight years of “repressed memory therapy� she is unable to continue her career as a teacher. Her marriage was destroyed and her child was taken away from her. Her problem was indeed biological and could have been treated. Repressed memory therapy destroyed the relationship of three generations in our family.

It is becoming increasingly clear that a large portion of psychotherapy is merely junk science.

Hopefully, Assemblyman Don Perata will take at least a small step in his legislation to reform mental health insurance claims.

JERRY R. SHORE

Idyllwild