Today saw a massive win for people campaigning to end mental health discrimination!
After the shock of seeing major supermarkets stocking an offensive 'mental patient' fancy dress costume, people took to social media to show the world what a #mentalpatient really looks like, using humour and positivity.
A big thanks to everyone who tweeted and Facebook messaged us with their photos, helping to raise awareness of mental health issues. This public outcry resulted in the costume being removed from sale at Asda and Tesco, helping people to understand that people with mental health problems are not only *like* you and me, they *are* you and me.
Take a look at some of the day's events:
How a 'mental patient' fancy dress costume can be a force for good @PaulBrook76 http://t.co/BMERL0mu8w @TimetoChange #mentalpatient
— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) September 26, 2013
My #mentalpatient costume @TimetoChange #bcafc pic.twitter.com/DSAY1oWiWB
— Mr Bradford City (@mwmorrow) September 26, 2013
@TimetoChange @MindCharity @Rethink_ #mentalpatient. That's a tesco cardigan not a straight jacket. #endstigma pic.twitter.com/LGfHvRmBbQ
— HHD (@Heather_HHD) September 26, 2013
@MindCharity @TimeToChange My #mentalpatient costume... Oh look it's @stephenfry too ;-) #mentalhealth #endstimga pic.twitter.com/8P55XMmV4J
— Caroline Millington (@ShowbizMillie) September 26, 2013
Sue: "Asda have withdrawn the 'mental patient' costume, but we're urging them to go further & become engaged in the anti-stigma movement"
— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) September 26, 2013
TWITTER! This is my #mentalpatient costume. Now show me yours! #timetotalk @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/yHzdH4d1Wj
— David Chalk (@davechalk) September 26, 2013
@davechalk @TimetoChange Nice one! And here is mine pic.twitter.com/FJ2tNzNHHn
— Cupcake Queen (@CrazyCakeLadyK) September 26, 2013
two down one to go. @asda and @tesco withdrawing mental patient costumes @amazon over to you #timetochange pls `RT
— Alastair Campbell (@campbellclaret) September 26, 2013
@TimetoChange heres my mental health outfit. #dailybattle #BPD pic.twitter.com/NlvOLg33Rn
— Stacey Milne (@milnestacey) September 26, 2013
My mental outfit for the day @MindCharity @timetochange #timetochange pic.twitter.com/qKDgELHPjT
— Huma (@Huma101) September 26, 2013
RT @mrs_gibb: My mental patient costume @TimetoChange @MindCharity pic.twitter.com/m1cHfuOw5a #whatstigma
— Miss Cakehead (@Miss_Cakehead) September 26, 2013
My #mentalpatient costume - at Oxford Uni (on the right) after 9mths in an MH unit! @TimetoChange @MindCharity pic.twitter.com/F2B2Gte10Q
— Esther Rich (@estherrich93) September 26, 2013
#MentalOutfitOfTheDay @suebakerTTC @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/WjIgzy2b3y
— Clarke Carlisle (@clarkecarlisle5) September 26, 2013
No make-up AND my #mentalpatient outfit. Terrifying. @MindCharity @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/22ElFE9Wwc
— Georgia (@ILassoTheMoon) September 26, 2013
Me in my #mentalpatient costume today @TimetoChange #asda #nostigma pic.twitter.com/8GxBFwQl4f
— Andrew Clark (@turasaiche) September 26, 2013
Looking deceptively normal in my #mentalpatient costume today whahaha @TimetoChange #asda #amazon #tesco pic.twitter.com/BU4JMtmPE0
— Katie Etherington (@KatieEthers) September 26, 2013
I'm a mother. I'm a wife. And yes, I have a mental health issue. | Time To Change http://t.co/iKAM3YVLgo via @sharethis
— shea wong (@MrsSheaWong) September 26, 2013
@theJeremyVine Do you like our #mentalpatient pic? We were inspired to tweak the ASDA costume... http://t.co/r1yTcljPtA
— RethinkMentalIllness (@Rethink_) September 26, 2013
Asda's donation welcome but we want to see a commitment to work with staff+customers to tackle mental health stigma http://t.co/rx1SsmYrqC
— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) September 26, 2013
The POWER of a LABEL @MindCharity @asda @TimetoChange Here's my #mentalpatient costume #endstigma pic.twitter.com/q51T224Cu0
— Clawed (@This_is_Claudia) September 26, 2013
It's been a busy day for Time to Change in the media. Listen to our director Sue Baker speaking on Radio 4's Today programme this morning: and on BBC 5live too.
@MindCharity @TimetoChange Do I look mental to you? #mentalpatientcostume pic.twitter.com/bH7GXs4wLK
— Elizabeth East (@ElizabethEast1) September 26, 2013
My #mentalpatient costume this am! @MindCharity pic.twitter.com/mt2AfVAesN #asda #amazon #tesco @TimetoChange pic.twitter.com/J4d5oqNUWk
— STUART SEMPLE (@stuartsemple) September 26, 2013
My #mentalpatient costume & writer/performer-open-about #mentalhealth to-break #stigma costume @MindCharity @Rethink_ pic.twitter.com/pr2jfIGucs
— Juliette Burton (@JulietteBurton) September 26, 2013
Not good @Georgeatasda @MindCharity pic.twitter.com/8zbVNmEqcf
— Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) September 25, 2013
Asda's "mental health patient" costume is staggeringly offensive. Our response from @suebakerTTC: http://t.co/uFWuXiGWQh
— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) September 26, 2013
