‘Mental Patient’ fancy dress outfit / new training to help tutors support students with mental health difficulties.

Did you find the Asda and Tesco ‘mental health patient’ outfits offensive? Would your staff agree with Alistair Cambell’s views that ‘this is not a bit of fun?’ Do your tutors know how to support the one in five of their students who have a mental health difficulty? Read about my new training event. 

Asda supermarket chain has apologised after selling a scary fancy dress outfit labeled ‘mental patient fancy dress attire’. Tesco also withdrew a scary outfit labeled ‘psycho-ward’ following widespread criticism.

Alistair Cambell, the former government spin doctor, has written about his mental health difficulties, and said ‘It’s not a bit of fun when it reinforces some of the negative stereotypes…the constant link between mental illness and violence [is unhelpful. The reality is that] a person with a mental health difficulty is far more likely to be the victim of violence rather than the perpetrator.’

The outrage was driven by Twitter, with some people posting their everyday pictures saying people with mental health difficulties look just like everyone else.

Asda and Tesco have withdrawn the products but many feel the damage has already been done.

‘Learners with mental health difficulties; dismantling barriers, providing effective support’

This is one of my ‘top ten’ most popular training courses - perhaps not surprising, given that one in five students aged between 16 and 25 will have a mental health difficulty. The workshop explores the barriers these learners face in a learning environment and the impact of these barriers on teaching, learning and assessment. The event identifies the practical strategies that tutors need to develop, to ensure learners with mental health difficulties are successful in their learning and achievement. The workshop also explores how to embed E&D in the curriculum in relation to mental health difficulties.

To download publicity and further information about this training workshop, click here