Mental health charity sparks outrage with spoof Christmas carols

Honey · December 21st, 2007, 04:53 AM

It was meant to be a lighthearted seasonal reflection on a serious subject. But not everyone got the joke.

The top ten of festive songs poking fun at psychiatric problems was published in a magazine for patients using mental health facilities.

The list - entitled Christmas Carols for the Mentally Disturbed - describes psychiatric conditions and suggests songs to suit the illness.

For multiple personality disorder there is We Three Kings Disorientated Are; paranoia is coupled with Santa Claus Is Coming To Town To Get Me; narcissism - Hark The Herald Angels Sing About Me.

The magazine, called Marooned, is produced by the Cromwell House mental health facility in Eccles, Salford.

Issued four times a year, it is put together by an editorial board made up of patients, with staff on hand should they need advice.

The winter edition was distributed in Salford's psychiatric clinics and drop-in centres but after a formal complaint from the daughter of a mental health patient, the magazine has been withdrawn.

Zinette Camille, who has a family member who suffered with mental illness for 19 years, picked up Marooned at the Meadowbrook psychiatric unit in the grounds of Hope Hospital.

Miss Camille, from Manchester, said: "I could not believe what I was reading. I was astonished that it could be so insensitive.

"I was angry that they could belittle people in that manner.

"I phoned up the council to express my concerns and someone at the magazine asked if I would like to write in and say why I found it offensive.

"They said the magazine had been running for 15 years and there had not been any problems.

"I said their response was not really good enough and asked whether it was not vetted by someone in authority.

"It is very degrading. The offending page says 'Christmas Carols for the Mentally Disturbed'.

"People with mental health issues have a disability - they are not disturbed."
Scroll down for more...

Read more...

If you're flying off for Christmas, you may be stranded for New Year by airport strikes

A spokesman for the magazine's editorial board said: "No offence was intended by the feature and we apologise sincerely for any distress caused.
"The magazine will now be recalled and the article removed. We have spoken to Miss Camille and have invited her down to meet the editorial board.
"We have also said that we would be happy to include her response to the feature in the next edition of the magazine."
Cromwell House is staffed by Salford Council care workers and others employed by the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust.
A spokesman for Salford City Council said future editions of the magazine would be subjected to closer vetting.
Richard Colwill, spokesman for mental health charity Sane, said: "While no one wants to cause offence, it would be a shame if people cannot poke a bit of fun at themselves, particularly at this time of year. "Laughter can be the best medicine but of course we are sorry to hear some people have been upset by the booklet."

'Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me': Mental health charity sparks outrage with spoof Christmas carols | the Daily Mail

sputnik · December 21st, 2007, 05:08 AM

hahaha i think those are funny!
people and their hypersensitivity suck! i'm so sick of whiny assholes getting offended all the time taking the fun out of everything. the fact that these were written by staff and patients of the mental hospital should make it clear to everyone that they're just having a laugh.

DeChayz · December 21st, 2007, 10:26 AM

When did having a sense of humor become so passe?

VenusInFauxFurs · December 21st, 2007, 10:28 AM

God people get a sense of humour, they're nice.

Sure mental illness is not something to make fun of, but the fact that these very written by the staff and patients goes to show that they weren't written from piss-taking, offensive place.

Ravenna · December 21st, 2007, 10:40 AM

As someone with an anxiety disorder or two, I poke fun at myself all the time and can see the funny when others poke fun too. People should lighten up.

These carols were amusing and reminded me of these jokes:

Phone Menu at the Mental Health Institute

Hello, and thank you for calling the Mental Health Institute

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly

If you have multiple personalities, press 2, 3 and 4.

If you suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, press 5 but do it v-e-r-y- s-l-o-w-l-y and carefully.

If you are dyslexic, press 6. Now press 9. Now press 6. Now press 9. Now press 6.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mothership.

If you have short term memory loss, press 8. If you have short term memory loss, press 8. If you have short term memory loss, press 8.

If you have schizophrenia, listen very carefully and a small voice will tell you the number to press.

If you have a nervous disorder, fidget with the hash key until a representative comes on the line.

If you are co-dependent, ask someone to press a number for you.

If you are depressed, don't bother to press any numbers. No one will be able to help you anyway.

If you are paranoid, you don't need to press anything. We know who you are, we know what you want, and we know how to reach you.

If you suffer from low self-esteem, please hang up because all our operators are too busy to talk to you.

VenusInFauxFurs · December 21st, 2007, 10:42 AM

^^

BoogsBun · December 21st, 2007, 11:00 AM

I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and thought that was funny as hell. I make fun of my mental status all the time. I would prefer people laugh and poke fun at it then think I'm a crazed lunatic that needs pity.

And the song title for BPD hit the nail on the head....which makes it all the funnier for me.

crumpet · December 21st, 2007, 11:11 AM

Those are fucking brilliant!

People need to understand that while a disease/illness itself isn't funny, plays on words and jokes can be.

Dixie Normos · December 21st, 2007, 12:21 PM

"I was angry that they could belittle people in that manner."

I'm amazed at her insensitivity, does she not realise that people suffering from mental afflictions LIKE to laugh and actually have a sense of humour? They have health issues, they're not stupid.

Gen X EJC · December 21st, 2007, 12:24 PM

I think it's ironic that mentally ill people WROTE them and a non-mentally ill person complained. We nutters like to make fun of ourselves, I thought they were hilarious.

Although they forgot 'Grey Christmas' (depressed)

Honey · December 21st, 2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixie Normos

"I was angry that they could belittle people in that manner."

I'm amazed at her insensitivity, does she not realise that people suffering from mental afflictions LIKE to laugh and actually have a sense of humour? They have health issues, they're not stupid.

Yes exactly

Lobelia · December 21st, 2007, 04:51 PM

Back when I was doing therapy, I had a group of teenagers in a day treatment program who were having trouble establishing rapport with each other enough to do productive group therapy. I got them some painting supplies, and had them paint a mural on a wall in the day room. No rules, just nothing vulgar. They did a landscape scene & put in huge letters up above "CRAZYLAND" They loved it & were high-fiving each other. Well, in comes this bitch from administration and declared it to be degrading & insulting, and made them cover it up. Pissed me off, and I thought it just validated the perception that they WERE crazy, and that we should be ashamed of it.

Nobody will ever convince me that mental illness isn't helped in some degree by humor. Laughter is truly the best medicine.