Thank you for video recording the videos and putting them online as you did, particularly this one of Harvey Rosenthal speaking, which I appreciated the most.

Way to go Harvey!

As someone who has tracked and documented the media stereotypes of people labeled "mentally-ill" over the past ten years, I am deeply grateful that miwatch.org has finally done what mainstream media outlets have consistently refused to do - that is to allow someone who is himself personally impacted by these stereotypes to finally be heard.

Harvey mentioned that 497 homicides were commited in NYC last year - the annual homicide rate in NYC is 5 to 600 a year. Now according to one of the Daily News' recent editorials these acts "happen with fearsome regularity 4-6 times a year." (Mike, Eliot, You Must Act, 2/21/08) Based upon the annual homicide rate for NYC and based upon the Daily News' own editorial that this happens 4-6 times a year, that average's out to 1% a year. The deception here is glaringly obvious. This year alone (since January 2nd) the Daily News has already printed three editorials stereotyping people labeled mentally-ill. And we're not even halfway through April yet.

In November of 1999 the Daily News published a front-page headline that read "Get the Violent Crazies Off Our Streets." This headine itself betrays a bias. Who is "Our?" This headline was accompanied by an editorial that contained the follwoing quote: "In our newfound complacency we have forgotten a particular kind of violence to which we are still prey, the violence of the mentally-ill!" Not only does this quote carry with it the assumption that violence and "mental illness" are synonomous, but once again who is "our?" Does "our" include me - even though I'm one of them people who has been branded as "mentally-ill."

Thank you MIWatch for letting us be heard. When people with the lived experience of mental health recovery speak our truth, listeners get a refreshing dose of reality. The media is in the business of sensationalizing. It makes them money and, to the disservice of us all, spreads fear and misinformation. Thank you Harvey Rosenthal for speaking our truth. You speak for millions whose voice has been silenced by the oppressive practices, policies and services of a mental health system that is suppose to help but unintentionally and unknowingly often hurts & humiliates many.

Mr. Rosenthal speaks for many New Yorkers who know & understand that access to better services, NOT forced treatment is what works for individuals. I would go one step further to say that it is not only a "failure of delivery service" that has failed so many in the treatment of "mental illnesses", but the basis of the failure lies in a delivery system that is indifferent and profit-based rather than focused on healing. Healing, as opposed to recovery is something that can and does happen. When individuals are better educated about the "actual outcomes" of prolonged psychiatric medication usage, which does more harm than good, as well as treatments that are downright dangerous to any individual's brain such as electroshock (ECT), they will begin to realize that a "return to basics" is the best way in which to conquer and treat "mental illness". Simply stated, new research has indicated that not only diet, but primarily exercise is the overall best way to combat mental illness. A return to basics also includes the use of vitamin supplements and avoidance of all medications, wherever possible, as well as the use of massage therapy, meditation, rest & recreation and other forms of stress reduction we can easily use to heal ourselves. Seeking the assistance of a supportive psychotherapist can also be invaluable in the ongoing healing process.

Harvey continues to be an outstanding spokesperson for our movement. Information disemination is key to the success of our collective recovery.