October was inundated via the media, merchandise, fundraisers and myriad organizations honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I am cognizant and sympathetic to those affected, and the welcome and needed support from their loved ones. The symbolic and ubiquitous pink is indicative of a cancer affecting approximately 12 percent of the population.

To be forthcoming, October is also marked as Mental Health Awareness Month. This was profoundly overlooked. What color would our ribbons be, and who would crusade for us?

As a well-read and experienced patient of this real yet abstract disease, I find society is still reluctant in its acceptance. There are myriad pills (some resplendent with unsavory, debilitating, life-threatening side effects), Band-Aid operations of inpatient treatments with bare-bones discharge plans, and interminably long waits (12 hours or so for crisis patients seeking relief for inpatient status).

Often, family, friends and society cannot accept the severity of this real, albeit erratic-appearing, sickness in its chronic and acute states.

If hospitals offering care for the mentally ill emulated the Patrick Dempsey Center, resplendent with programs, treatments, literature, more community support, fundraisers, marathons, etc., those on both sides of the coin would benefit.

I can only dream.

Barbara J. Kern, Auburn