Mental Illness

Thank you, Shawn Hubler, for spreading the word that psychiatric illness is in truth a medical illness and is treatable (July 12). In this “decade of the brain,” which the 1990s has been called, we do not separate the brain from the rest of the body any longer. Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, anorexia and depression have been found to have actual biological bases. They are in fact medical illnesses. And just like for other medical illnesses--high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol--medical treatments exist.

Cancer was once referred to as “the Big C” and diabetes “the Big D.” The actual names of illnesses were never spoken due to the stigma attached. Today we use the words “cancer” and “diabetes” without flinching. So let us also bring “the Big M”--mental illness--into the 21st century, where we can announce it without having any negative connotations attached.

LIANE COLSKY MD

Chair, Public Affairs Committee

Southern California Psychiatric

Society Woodland Hills