I AM writing to contest Mike Bentley's unsound and uneducated comments in the Saturday Sound Off (June 19).

Firstly, not every innocent person expects to find themselves in the dock on a serious charge. However, more disturbing are his absurd comments referring to people with mental health problems: "single parents on Prozac" and "a gibbering idiot" to name a couple.

Mr Bentley's comments clearly show him to be ignorant and judgmental. The stigma attached to mental illness in our society remains today due to a lack of education that Mr Bentley is all too willing to express.

I am surprised that the Evening Press would publish remarks that are parallel to racism and other forms of elitist abuse.

I would advise Mr Bentley to be cautious with such judgements as one in three people will suffer from mental health problems in their lifetime. If it is not Mr Bentley himself, it may be someone dear to him, who, as a result of his unsympathetic views, may not get the help they need and deserve.

Indeed, I would imagine his advice would be for them to "pull their socks up".

Ellie Carr,

Roman Avenue North,

Stamford Bridge, York.

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, June 23, 2004