To the Editors:
I must write to correct a serious error in the article by MiriamWexler titled "The Disparity of Parity" in the spring 2007 issue. I absolutely agree with her that Timothy's Law definitely needs improving, however we pay over $8,000 a year for “private health insurance” for my son who has OCD, but who has greatly improved with the great care he's received in the last couple of years.
Ms. Wexler states that the law "will help end discrimination against mentally ill patients with private insurance policies..." This is not true. It is precisely those with private policies who will not be included in the law. Only those covered through group policies who will reap the benefit of the law. The irony is that those who suffer from mental illness very often cannot work to get this type of coverage. So the discrimination goes on, even for those of us who are paying steep premiums. David gets no reimbursement for his therapy bills, which run $175 per week and nothing for his visits to the psychiatrist, whose bill is $275 per visit.
GHI, the insurer, misled us when the law first became effective on 1/1/07, first telling us that the policy would now include these visits, and then withdrawing this change when it realized that in New York State, the loophole is that Direct-Pay policies (i.e., private policies) are not included in Timothy's Law.
While I, of course, sympathize with the uninsured and those on Medicare, Ms. Wexler, I would hope, should express sympathy for those in David's position and his family, who pay "through the nose" for private policies and then have to find additional thousands and thousands to get the quality care they need to improve. Please, you must issue a correction so that more people out there realize the additional shortcomings of the law. It is a great start, but it is only a start. The middle class is suffering as well.
Harriet Novick
Via the Internet
Helping Others With My Disorders
To the Editors:
I am 21-years-old and I live in South Jersey. I am currently reading The Day the Voices Stopped. I am enthralled with these situations of which I can definitely relate. I cannot put this reading down! When I heard about the National Mental Health Association, it hit close to home. I myself was diagnosed with anorexia, bipolar, and schizoaffective disorder. I have volunteered at the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County, New Jersey, either filing or sending mail out. But I have also visited with the people of MHAAC, the cases. I have helped schizophrenics and those with varied mental illness travel to camp and board buses. I have also been to their safe house, called The Ice, a safe place where they can have some shelter, food, and TV.
It is good to know there are places like this for people just like me. Also, it is a strong factor in the lives of those who are not consistently taking meds or have given up to the voices. I also am very proud of myself for writing a huge book I would like to dissect and publish. The book consists of my diary entries from anorexia nervosa and on. I was diagnosed with all three at around the same time. I was very excited to hear about New York City Voices. I wanted to express a strong thank you to Mr. Kenneth Steele. There is hope. It's out there. You will find your place in life. I think that inside, I have a natural gift for writing. My faith in God pushes me toward greater things as well. I would do anything to help others with my disorders.
Taylor Egan
Via the Internet
Loved the Spring Edition!
To the Editors:
I have had time to relish the Spring 2007 issue. "Playing the Housing Game to Win" almost seems like an oxymoron. I have few friends who truly reside in livable housing conditions under mental health housing. Though I do not live "within the system," I am more easily related to "The Perils of Living in an Apartment Program" by Anonymous.
I will further pursue my interest in the Rosenhan Study, but was truly struck by the article by Eric Chang, Ph.D. I would love to see that study repeated today.
Given how consumers are still stigmatized, diagnosed and labeled, I would expect a similar outcome. How far, then, have we really come in the eyes of many an inpatient psychiatrist? On page 10, there are many book recommendations I could make for Robin Marie Coley. One is a slim, Grieving Mental Illness. I'm glad the NAMI Walk was covered as the first of its kind, although I recall a 5K walk around the Battery Park area for a consumer mental health concern about 10 years ago. Athletes with mental illnesses were featured speakers at that time. Thanks to Marty Cohen for the photos! All in all, another fantastic voyage through NYCV. Oh, and many congratulations to you and your dedicated staff as you are now an independent business! I know Ken Steele would not have been surprised, but would have predicted such growth.
Barbara Gewirtz
Via the Internet
I Reported Abuse at My State Hospital
To the Editors:
This letter is [a response to] your Quality of Care survey. I have experienced poor treatment and abuse from the staff at [a New York State psychiatric hospital]. I came to [the hospital] from jail....In the beginning, I refused my medication, which I sorely needed. In 2000, I was attacked by [a staff member] who broke three of my ribs. I was dragged, punched and kicked all over my body in a side room out of view. I received no medical treatment after. There have been many instances like this at [this hospital] over the years, very few of which are reported because of threats by staff to “make your life a living hell if you make a report!”
On March 19, 2007, I [blew the whistle on] a massive tobacco, gambling and loan-sharking operation which was being covered up by several staff...I was originally part of the corruption, but decided it had gone too far when [another] innocent patient was attacked by [staff] on February 27, 2007 and badly injured. The patient-witnesses wanted to protect their money-laundering operation, which was reaching thousands of dollars....I turned in the operation as well as the three [patient] witnesses and their staff-protection and was then attacked [for it]....I later filed felony assault charges...[The other patient who was attacked] had photographs taken of his bruised genitals and launched his own legal suit. The New York State Police investigation [of the situation has] made [the other patient-victim's] life and mine a living hell!
If you want to help Mark Fonda in a practical way or just to offer support, please contact City Voices (347) 702-4164.
Mark Fonda
New York State Psychiatric Hospital Upstate
New York City Voices is Impressive
To the Editors:
What impresses me is that the articles are so well written, informative, and varied and yet, consumers are running the show. It proves we are not "disabled" but a group of very talented, smart, opinionated, well spoken, and diverse thinkers. I am beginning to 'know' more and more of the people who are involved in the mental health community of Staten Island and NYC and really enjoy seeing photos of the people. I'm coming to NYC on December 7th and leaving on the 10th. I will be staying with Paul and Yvonne.
The paper makes me feel like I am part of a dynamic organization. It builds my self-confidence when I see so much good and so many people in recovery and making the best of a sometimes "bad" situation. Peer advocacy is really where healing and recovery are at their best. New York City Voices epitomizes that and gives us all a great deal more hope. I may be far away physically, but in many ways, I feel more connected with my NYC friends than friends and neighbors around me. I know that I am among people who truly understand me and appreciate each little victory and cry with me during setbacks and failures. It's given me a new lease on life.
Dee Jordan
Mobile, Alabama
Natural Medication for Suicide Prevention
To the Editors:
I am both a provider and consumer of mental health services. I am a member of the Wellness unit of Fountain House here in Manhattan. Dr. John Mann invented a test about eight or nine years ago to determine the levels of serotonin in the human brain and determined that low serotonin levels go hand-in-hand with clinical depression, which can lead to suicide. This knowledge is a good start, but for the most part, mentally ill people are like guinea pigs. Well documented, well researched book with chapters on "Depression",“Anxiety", "Insomnia" etc. There is a marvelous psychiatric medicine, a basically 'natural medicine with few if any side effects! 5-HTP is a natural medicine which the body naturally converts into serotonin.
Nutritional psychiatrists often use nutritional psychiatry combined with a much lower dose of the chemical medication in treating some patients.
I was a patient at the Fryer Research Center from 1970 until it closed last year in 2006. I continue to follow the dietary plan and supplement plan prescribed to me by the nutritional psychiatrists at the Fryer Research center. The only side effect I experience is a very mild flushing from a low dose of niacin.
Dr. Richard Ribner was my doctor for many years. He was a man and a great soul. In addition to being a nutritional psychiatrist, he also led meditation and stress reduction groups at the Fryer Research Center.
Michael Gottlieb
New York