I want to praise and thank Dr. Erik Steele for his column that appeared in the Bangor Daily News on Feb. 5 titled, “Mentally ill at bottom of the pile once again.” Dr. Steele writes in a style that is fun to read, to the point and in language everyone can understand.

My wife and I have raised four children. Our youngest, a 44-year-old daughter, has suffered from mental illness for 25 years. She has had many hospitalizations, many different diagnoses and many different doctors. Unlike other diseases, lab work and X-rays can’t identify mental illness. This brain disease is hard to deal with and our family has had many peaks and valleys in caring for our daughter whom we love dearly.

Mentally ill people deserve respect and fairness. People who don’t understand mental illness are quick to say these people are lazy, spoiled brats. Give them a bus ticket and tell them to hit the road. That is exactly what happened to John Hinckley who shot President Reagan.

I ask legislators to not cut the budget for the mentally ill. I believe you will join us and give civil rights to the mentally ill.

Robert Treworgy

Calais