So both Tesco and Asda have apologised for putting on sale fancy dress outfits designed to portray people with mental illness as a danger to the public. One item used a strait jacket and included a meat cleaver.
Unfortunately this apology is too late. The deed has been done and much damage will have been done to sufferers who found themselves the target of a marketing campaign designed to make fun of these distressing conditions. Thank goodness for people like Alistair Campbell who speak out for this marginalised community. It is indeed the stigma that is harder to fight than the actual illness, something he made very clear.
The truth is that people suffering from depression or other mental health illnesses are less likely to harm others than they are to harm themselves. This type of activity which pokes fun at people in their lowest moments will be more likely to lead to suicides than to murder.
It is clear the items should not have passed stringent tests that should be in force. We have codes and guidelines for baby toys and electrical equipment, for example. The two companies concerned have marketing departments which should be adhering to a code of conduct. Some bright new spark obviously thought he or she would make their mark in the company with this atrocious idea. What is more worrying is that the chances of the designer of these outfitters being a young person would seem high.
On a positive note today's news has brought about much debate in the media and many posts on Twitter where tweeters post their photos and say 'this is what a mental health patient looks like.' Good for them.
We cannot always choose whether we suffer these illnesses but we can choose where to shop and I, for one, will be boycotting these two stores from now on.
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