Friday 31 October 2014

Demonising The Mentally 'Ill' - Getting Picky, To Suit, Where The Money And Votes Are


It's OK, To Support Some ...


... But, Not OK, To Support Others.

*****

Friday 31 October 2014 08.55 GMT

Stop selling Halloween outfits that demonise mentally ill, says minister

"Address by Norman Lamb to care conference follows outcry over marketing online of ‘psycho’ and ‘schizo’ joke costumes.

"Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat care and support minister, will give a speech urging retailers not to “demonise” people with mental health problems by selling trick-or-treat and party outfits that mock psychiatric patients.

His address to the National Child and Adult Services (NCAS) conference in Manchester comes after several joke outfits depicting dangerously violent mental patients in chains and wearing masks made headlines after going on sale online.

Lamb is due to tell the conference: “For me it is horrendous that, this Halloween, a young person experiencing a mental health crisis could easily come across someone in a ‘psycho ward’ or ‘schizo patient’ costume – complete with handcuffs and ripped restraints – as much as they could see someone in a Dracula costume.

“This Halloween culture is dangerous. It conditions all of us to fear mental illness, to see people as ‘psychos’, or ‘schizos’, [or 'paedos'], or ‘freaks’.

It makes us believe that mental illness is something otherworldly. We have to tackle this damaging stigma which prevents young people from seeking help when they need it, or talking about any problems they might be having.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy Halloween but I urge all retailers to behave more responsibly – don’t demonise mental illness.”"

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/oct/31/halloween-outfits-demonise-mentally-ill-sell-psycho-schizo?CMP=twt_gu

*****
(Embedded Tweets - click date)

*****

Try To Be Mindful, Paul

http://therealosc.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/try-to-be-mindful-paul.html

*****
(Embedded Tweets - click date) 

*****
(Embedded Tweets - click date)

*****

More to follow.

No comments:

Post a Comment