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'Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me': Mental health charity sparks outrage with spoof Christmas carols
Last updated at 13:37pm on 21.12.07
Carols are traditional fare at this time of year but some re-worked songs were considered insensitive
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and drop-in centres but after a formal complaint from the daughter of a mental health patient, the magazine has been withdrawn.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."
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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."
Reader views (10)
Hmm. Very funny, understand the concerns, but please remember this has been done by the patients themselves, and to deny anyone the right to make light of their own afflictions is even more offensive in its patriachal disempowerment. Just remember Ian Dury and the Blockheads and their fantastic track 'Spasticus Autisticus'. This was banned and the politician who banned it later stated his regret at his knee-jerk reaction.
- Adam, Sheffield, England
The voices in my head told me that these people need to get a sense of humour.
- Rich, Mass., US
Madness gone politically correct (glad I got this in first!).
I am so upset by this. Why is it that some do gooding civil servant can decide that they are going to 'vet' what mental health service users write about themselves off the back of one ill informed complaint? Humour like this is just about the only thing that keeps you going when you are suffering a MH condition. Talk about infantilising people - just because we are mad, doesn't mean we are stupid, or incapable, or need looking after 'for our own good' (unless sectioned for that reason!). MH issues can hit anyone, they knock out one part of you, not your entire adult being - we don't need muppety council staff deciding what they think is 'best' for us because they are too scared to act rationally. If they want to do something useful they should put the same effort into providing effective treatment and support for those who need it.
- Nick, Berkshire
If Miss Camille is so offended then maybe she should just not read it and by another publication, leaving people with a sense of humour alone. Her remark 'isn't it vetted by someone in authority' demeans the people who put the magazine together and suggets they are not fit to do so because they have a diagnosis and so need 'extra help'. Did she ask her family member what they thought of it? Trip to life shop? Buy one?
- Robyn, London
If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at? Miss Camille should leave those with a sense of humour alone. If you want a big laugh, go and find a picture of Zinette, she's not a Christmas cracker. Cruel joke? No, hers is the cruel joke for making the comments to start with.
- Chris, Carshalton, England
Good lord people, lighten up!
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
I thought this was brilliant. I suffer with a disorder myself and it certainly made me see the funny side of things!
- Beverley, London
I see that the patients write this magazine, is this really not a case of the lunatics taking over the asylum.
- Dardellion Montblanc, London, UK
"...it is put together by an editorial board made up of patients."
So, let's get this straight, it's made for the mentally ill by the mentally ill and the complainant has no mental illness but has stated that it's offensive to the mentally ill, how does she know exactly?
- Gormless Brown, London
You have to ask... who's the madest of us all? Is there a 'syndrome' for Political Correctness? Fear of upsetting everyone? This Country.. tut...
- Paul, Bromley
