Power of words

Blaine Stum’s article on Sunday was impressive for his articulation of stigmatization of mental illness and citing of studies. The Spokesman-Review needs to take a look at this and understand the power of language. Local news stations should also get this.

Journalists often use the word “schizophrenic” as an adjective. People dealing with schizophrenia do not appreciate this obtuse use of the word. Journalists need to understand the power of words. The term fetus powerfully affected the outcome of Roe vs. Wade.

I believe there is no correlation between mental illness and violence. Stum’s statistics from studies show that “victimization is a greater public concern than perpetration.” According to one study, victimization rates are 65 percent to 130 percent higher than those of the general public.

My brother, Douglas Vanairsdale, presented with severe schizophrenia when he was 16 in Anchorage. He was a kind person. When he was 26, living in a group home in Seattle, he went missing after work and his body was found below a train trestle on Alaskan Way. We believe Doug was murdered, probably another sad statistic of the victimization rates.

Teresa Vanairsdale

Spokane