Retailers have been urged to remove outdated Halloween costumers, which stereotype people living with mental illness, from their stores.
Rachel Green, CEO of SANE, a leading national mental health organisation for people with complex mental health issues, said major retailers were promoting a range of straitjacket costumes that portrayed people with mental health issues as “insane”, “crazed patients” and “out of control”.
Ms Green said on the back of one jacket were the printed words: “Property of The County Mental Institution. Approach with caution”.
“These types of costumes are archaic, offensive and stigmatising. This portrayal of people with mental health issues is concerning and can prevent people from accessing the help they need.
“It is important that we think about how language is used and how we are portraying individuals in our community to ensure that we are not preventing people from seeking support.”
SANE Board Member Luke Marshall, who has experienced mental health issues, said mental health wasn’t a costume and could negatively affect quality of life.
“This does nothing but reinforce negative stereotypes and stigmatise a community that’s already fighting enough battles.”
