Juliet Lapidos wrote this "funny" piece. Having a mental illness is not funny.

Ms. Lapidos: the mentally ill ARE NOT to be referred to as "loon", psychiatric hospitals are not "nut houses" and one certainly does not "haul" a person to a "mental ward".

Many of those who have been diagnosed with major depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia take their medication regularly and hold good jobs. They are courageous, respectable people.

Antipsychotics and antidepressants are relatively new medications. They sometimes fail to keep a person stable even when taken as prescribed. Psychiatrists do not know why this happens.

--> Please write another "Explainer" piece:

a) showing that you have learned about living with a mental illness and

b) explaining to the listeners which terms are the proper ones and urge them not to use disparaging words.

Show us all that you are willing to learn something new. Thanks.

Live to Learn -

Thank you for your comments. It is remarkable that I had the same opinion. I wrote down the word "loon" on my notepad as I read this article. I am offended that we are still (to this day) making fun of those who are mentally ill. My mother is schizophrenic and has been in and out of mental institutions here entire life. Mental illness is still a stigma and that is why my whole life I have been ashamed to tell people about my mother's condition for fear that they will think that I am "crazy" or a "loon" too. Do not poke fun at the mentally ill. It is not funny. Imagine having your life taken away from you because of something you can't control? My mother lost her husband, me, her job and most sadly, her mind and life as most of us know it.

Let me reiterate that mental illness is not something to joke about. Sure we all have issues with our co-workers, but let's not confuse our everyday BS with something that is far more serious.