Slipping through cracks

July 18, 2008 05:52 am

— I do not live in Pennsylvania anymore, but I was visiting when the gentleman stepped out in front of a car on Routes 11-15 and was killed. When I read the follow-up stories, it appears that he was mentally ill. It is a sin that we in America have organized relief programs for all kinds of dogs and other animals, but we cannot provide adequate care for those who cannot help themselves. There should have been some way to help that gentleman so that he did not have to live and die by the side of the road. I would encourage everyone to speak up for the mentally ill and to lobby for adequate continuing care for them. I know that there are long-term care hospitals for the mentally ill; I feel the workers there do a good job, but I feel there are too many people who are slipping through the cracks in the system.
Beatrice Cress,
Mansfield