Halloween No Time For Mental Health Stereotypes, NAMI Says

With Halloween quickly approaching, there are more than ghosts and goblins to watch out for, mental health advocates say.

The dress up holiday seems to invite “insane asylums” featuring scary, murderous mental health patients, officials at the National Alliance on Mental Illness say.

And that’s not something to take lying down. Be on the lookout for costumes and events that misrepresent mental illness, NAMI says, and take action by educating store owners and event sponsors and asking them to remove offensive products.

NAMI already has an organized effort to combat an “Asylum of Terror” in New Jersey which is sponsored by a local Wal-Mart and Dunkin’ Donuts, among others. The group is also advocating against the sale of “psycho” costumes that include straitjackets and shackles.