Addressing this to you Pat, but of course, I know you know....

The issue is about perpetuating the STIGMA of mental illness. SO many of us have faced that first hand. We talk about it right here on this forum. The stigma of mental illness forces people to hide their problems and not seek help.

Things like this stupid bear in a straight jacket equate being "crazy" to being in a straight jacket. It seems a small little joke, but what it does it just reinforce the daily afront in the media regarding persons with mental illness being violent, and in need of restraints.

In addition, people who might seek emergency treatment still fear the old days of "Cuckoo's Nest" hospitals and straight jackets. Restraints are EXTREMELY rare in most hospitals. Everything is done to try to prevent their use since it's SO traumatizing to the patient, the other patients on the ward, and even the staff. Sedating meds are typically used instead.

Someone I loved more than life itself tired to hide her own mental illness, and refused to go into a hospital because she was afraid of what she might face. She was also desparately afraid of what people might think if they heard she was "crazy". So she didn't go. Instead, the choice she made was to die by suicide.

Stigma is not a small thing. The little issues add up. This stupid bear is, yes, a small thing. But a life time of small things add up to a public image of mental illness that MUST change, or people will continue to suffer needlessly.

emmy (an opinionated wench, ehh?)