In the lead up to Halloween, SANE is calling on big retailers to remove outdated costumes that are stereotyping people living with complex mental health issues.
Major retailers, including Big W and Spotlight, are promoting a range of straitjacket costumes online that portray people with mental health issues as ‘insane’, ‘crazed patients’ and ‘out of control’.
On the back of one jacket in particular are the printed words: “Property of The County Mental Institution. Approach with caution”.
SANE CEO Rachel Green says “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.”
“Mental illness isn’t a costume and can negatively affect our quality of life,” says SANE Board Member Luke Marshall who has his own experience of mental health issues. “This does nothing but reinforce negative stereotypes and stigmatise a community that’s already fighting enough battles.”
Yesterday SANE launched a social campaign calling for the immediate removal of the costumes from sale.
“We are calling on retailers to remove these costumes from sale and for the community to understand the impact that stigma can have on people with mental health concerns,” Ms Green says.
SANE is an organisation guided by lived experience and is dedicated to supporting and advocating for people with complex mental health needs.
