Last week’s column about the stigma of mental illnesses and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. going into hiding over his “mood disorder” – a mental illness – created an outpouring of correspondence from readers.

Their stories and comments are especially important with last month’s collapse of Family Service and Community Mental Health Center in McHenry. The writers cross all demographic, geographic and political lines. Their stories are touching, and their comments to the point. Most are stories of hope and recovery. And they show the frustration of living with diseases that are stigmatized in a day when understanding and support should reign.

Some names and identifying remarks have been changed to protect their privacy. I turn today’s column over to readers.