Santa Clara University

Thank you for publishing Professor Plante's article on mental disorders and mental illness. Having worked with people with mental illness for over 20 years, I grew to understand the burden they, their family members, and our communities carry. These people have souls and hearts similar to those without mental illness. It is sad that we do not always treat them as such.

To Dr. Plante's "Seven Principles of Prevention," I would add two more: creating healthy and loving communities; and advocacy for mental health insurance coverage.

A caring and loving community of friends and family can lessen the impact of a mental illness for the sufferer and family members alike. Full mental health insurance coverage, on a par with physical health coverage, allows people suffering from mental illness to access treatment and alleviate the illness before it increases to a point of hospitalization, self-destruction, or harming others.

Again, thank you for your article on this important issue.

Jeanne C. Labozetta '72, MA '76, MBA '93 San Jose, CA