"While these poems evidence the fact that illness can make us feel unable to cope with everyday living (or sadly, like something is missing), there is also hope contained within the lines-a plea to 'carry on' despite those negative feelings."

"While she was at work or away from home she had to lock him in his bedroom to keep him safe ... because she had seen the horrible state hospital movies on television (specifically naming 'Asylum,' 'Snake Pit,' and 'Cuckoo's Nest') and she would never allow her son to be put in places like these."

"At first, I was reluctant to talk to Ken ... without a third party present. Then, I realized what was happening. I was acting contrary to the mission statement of the newsletter, which is to remove the stigma of having a mental illness. I was, in fact, placing a stigma on Ken." 

"When an express train going north came through the station, Lisa vaulted in front of it to her death. Those dreaded voices urged her to leave this earth and her miserable existence."

"The Person-to-Person telephone support line represents a new and important step towards putting telecommunications ... to work for us, our family members, psychiatrists and others. I have learned this firsthand."

"Caregivers need to take a break.  Mental health workers need to take their vacations, leave the office at a reasonable time, and generally know their limitations.  Family caregivers need to be 'off duty' on a regular basis."

Copyright © 1999 NYC Voices

"For most of us, living on a fixed income of SSI or SSD, the thought of 'living well' has become an unattainable fantasy. It really doesn't have to be that way."

"Every mental health consumer knows the loneliness and isolation that can accompany our illnesses ... Compeer can provide a friend to a lonely consumer."

"Advocacy is based on the premise ... that the bill of rights applies to all individuals, including those who are mentally ill."

"Where are these ER personnel and doctors in general coming from!? Didn't they learn about mental illness in their training? We are human beings. Our disease is secondary."