Okay, here's the deal.  Philip over at Furious Seasons is running a fund raiser.  Why?  Because he needs money, silly!  Now, I have never asked the seven of you who read this to give money, right?  But I have my reasons.

No, I don't want to hop into bed with him, unless.... Actually, I have a tough time reading his blog.  In part, because he is in your face, fearless, relentless and challenging.  Me?  I'm a wuss.  He is on the front line of exposing big pharma complicities, psych med duplicities and a ferret in the holes of psych ethics.  In short, we need him.

He is a passionate journalist in an area that is lacking, a warrior in the uncharted waters of psych ethics, an unsung hero of transparency.  So, do us all a favour and stop by.  Donate a few bucks.  It may be the best money you have spent since your last medication co-pay.

I know that I am not alone in believing that better health care could and should be provided to those living with mental illness.  In fact, earlier today I read a comment from a woman, who was talking about the terrible conditions of the State Hospitals that she herself had suffered.  I recommended to her that she should keep telling her tale, because unless we speak out, this sometimes deadly treatment of us will continue, unabated.  I had suggested that she write to NAMI and all the others listed in my "The Pros" column.

In a serendiptious twist of fate, I was checking my old e-mails, only to find that NAMI is in the process of a survey about the experience of the public mental health system!  It's a sign, boys and girls, to let them know what's really happening.  You can remain anonymous, and have until the end of September to fill it out.  Go directly to the NAMI website.  Tell your friends, family, hell, anyone that'll listen, because like it or not, we all know some one who's traveled this stoney path.