The Herald has a good track record on reporting mental health issues but two items on February 22 did nothing but reinforce misunderstandings about mental ill-health.

The Herald has a good track record on reporting mental health issues but two items on February 22 did nothing but reinforce misunderstandings about mental ill-health.

Your article about the reduction in patient numbers at the State Hospital at Carstairs ends with a report of parliamentary exchanges about a scheme to provide parents with information about paedophiles. This reinforces the mistaken belief that people with mental health problems are likely to be a danger to children. They are not, and it is not helpful to cover both issues in one news piece.

Secondly, your coverage of the serial killer, Steve Wright, includes comments from Keith Ashcroft (described as a psychiatrist but actually a psychologist) in which he concludes that Wright's behaviour may be down to a "manic depressive illness". I can find no reference to a diagnosis of a mental disorder in any of the coverage of this case. Dr Wright's speculation is, therefore, unfounded. His comments are likely to reinforce public misconceptions about violence and mental ill-health.

Linda M. Dunion,
Cellardyke, Fife.