To the Editor of The New York Times:

Frank Rich’s eloquent plea for a sane and meaningful response to the shootings at the Capitol (column, July 29) should be required reading for every member of Congress.

Mental illness is identifiable and treatable. Our society deserves the benefits of compassionate care. We pay either way. We can either support a culture of unemployable, homeless or imprisoned, untreated mentally ill or we can pay for psychiatric treatment and social support.

RONNIE S. STANGLER, M.D.

The writer is a former president, Washington State Psychiatric Association

Published New York Times July 30, 1998