Abbe story was hurtful, appalling

To the editor:

The article about ghost hunting at the Abbe Center was appalling, insensitive and traumatizing ('Listening for the beyond,” May 14).

The Abbe Center was a place for individuals living with mental illnesses to receive help and support. The closing of the facility was a loss beyond measure and this article was hurtful. To see those pictures showing how poorly the building has been treated after the facility was closed was hurtful and gives a wrong impression that it was abandoned without care.

I worked as a nurse at that facility for over 30 years. I worked there when it was managed by Linn County and after it was privatized and managed by Abbe Center. I have spoken with countless people since the facility closed about the positive impact on their lives of having 'somewhere to go, to be accepted and get help” and the negative impact it not having that any longer. These are realities that are our current mental health system and are hard enough without having sensationalized articles and pictures to add trauma.

I continue to work for the Abbe Center and am proud of what we do and who we serve. Everyone's lives are affected by mental illnesses and the messages by the media should reflect that and be respectful.

Teresa Keenan

Manchester