A letter to the editor published in the December 19th edition of the Vancouver Courier:
To the editor:
Re: "Hitting the High Notes," Dec. 10.
Thank you for your informative profile of musician/activist Earle Peach.
I have just one criticism. In the article, writer Lenore Rowntree referred to her sister as "schizophrenic"--a common error that a lot of people make. Perhaps she meant that her sister has schizophrenia. That makes more sense since schizophrenia is a mood disorder that often comes and goes, not a religion.
Besides that, calling people "schizophrenic" or "bipolar" pigeonholes them as walking chemical disasters. As someone who works in the mental health community, I am constantly blown away by the talented, perceptive and compassionate people around me. Many have a diagnosis like schizophrenia but can and do run circles around so-called "normal people" in the greater community. Ironically a great number of journalists are thought to have some form of bipolar disorder.
It's time for us to stand up for ourselves, be accurate and make sure that all journalists in print, radio and television are as well.
Cassandra Freeman, Vancouver
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