AS A group which is working to try and change negative perceptions of mental health in the media we read with mounting concern the letter (Hereford Times, October 5) from the unnamed lady in Leominster.

It appears she has had an unnerving experience with a 'mentally disadvantaged' man. We offer our sympathy that she should have had her personal space invaded and felt anxious and harassed in this manner. We think most of us, faced with such unusual behaviour, would feel the same.

During her many points of call did she not think to call the police if she felt in serious danger? The man may well then have been taken to a place of safety where his mental health could have been assessed. It is also possible he may have been under the influence of drugs and or alcohol or that some cause other than mental illness made him act in this manner, in which case the sweeping statement of 'mentally disadvantaged' would have been inaccurate.

It may be this man does need help with mental health issues and family and friends may have been seeking help for him. The fact is that, in most cases, a crisis precipitates treatment. We would agree that avoiding a crisis is much the better option but this must not be by arbitrarily locking people up.

Better care in the community would result in better care for the community, and we all know that community care has its shortcomings. These may be due to lack of funding but will be made worse by a lack of willingness from the community to include, welcome and get to know people who are known to have had mental health difficulties and for whom such inclusion would make an enormous difference in their recovery.

Everyone should feel safe on the streets, including the man referred to. It is a well-documented fact that people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than be violent to others. (2004 Social Exclusion Unit Report).

The lady refers to people she knows 'with mental health issues such as autism'. We do not think autism is, in itself, regarded as a mental illness although people with autism can be prone to mental ill-health. Also, people with mental health issues are not generally mentally disadvantaged, as many of those interviewed by Stephen Fry for his recent TV series clearly illustrated.

We cannot stress enough our sympathy for this lady having been so harassed, but would like to thank her and the Hereford Times for being brave enough to open the debate. We only hope equal space is given to other opinions.

Rob Evans, Maggie Matthews, for Mediaware, Trent Close, Droitwich Spa.