By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – For centuries, hiding away people with mental illness was accepted. But care for the mentally ill has changing. And now, advocates say it is time for attitudes to also change. A mental health empowerment rally will be held Saturday in Buffalo.
The terms lunatic asylum, madhouse, and asylum for idiots have faded into an ugly past. Fortunately, the end of the last century brought with it an end to the wholesale, long term institutionalizing of the mentally ill.
But society's ugly misperceptions have not so easily faded.
Amy Upham is the anti-stigma coordinator for the Action for Mental Health agency. She said the rally will help them bring mental illness out in the open.
Statistics show that the mentally ill lose 97 percent of employment discrimination cases. They are 12 times more likely to be victims of violent crime. And they are often victims of the criminal justice system.
Upham said never was that more evident than in the case of Anthony Cappozi. The schizophrenic man falsely convicted of rapes committed by Altemio Sanchez, the Bike Path rapist.
Upham said Capozzi's case is by no means an isolated incident.
Upham said they have invited Capozzi to join them at the rally. There will be an open mic for any mental health patient who wishes to share his or her story.
And she said there is also good news to share.
The Buffalo police now train some officers to better deal with the mentally ill. And that has helped lower arrests. But Upham said the best news is that people with mental illness can recover.
She said that includes people who are the most ill, such as those with schizophrenia - people who might once have been locked away and forgotten.
The public is invited to attend the Mental Health Empowerment rally. It will be held from 6:00 PM -9:30 PM Saturday at Elmwood and Bidwell Parkway.
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