Writing your opinion in your local paper is a way to share and magnify your thoughts. One letter to the editor often generates more letters to the editor and a full discussion of a key issue. This is important because the public and your representatives read closely what is said in their local papers; it also serves to educate other people about various issues and gives them perspectives on those issues they may not have heard before. This can get more people involved in our cause to clean up the field of mental health.