Hey you guys, I have a column due in a few weeks (I rotate writing the Sunday column with a few other people). I like to take the opportunity of a platform to stir the pot and make people think.

I want to do one on the stigma of mental illness and the popular misconceptions of it. The way most of the mainstream media seizes on mental illness as an excuse for aberrant behavior, even when it's clearly not even remotely related, ticks me off. (See Doc John's recent blog post for a good example.)

I'd like to hear your pet peeves and your experiences. I won't quote anybody by name, not even screen name. I do plan to discuss my own experiences, because that's usually what engages readers for better or worse and gets them talking (so I know they're reading, LOL). Consider this a chance to rant.

I also like to add an educational component to my columns, so if you have any favorite psych-related websites that might be relevant, pass them on. I will certainly plug PC.

Our paid Sunday circulation is somewhere in the 40,000s, meaning that if every person who subscribes reads the paper that day, that's how many will read this. But newspapers tend to get passed along to others in the household, etc. There's a decent chance of making a difference here. Help me out?

thanks

Candy