Traditional: But Christmas carols were given a radical make-over by a health trust in Salford
Posted on 12/20/2007 11:37:36 AM PST by Stoat
Traditional: But Christmas carols were given a radical make-over by a health trust in Salford
A bad taste top ten of Christmas carols poking fun at mental illness has been slammed as "degrading" and "insensitive" after it was published with the backing of a social services department.
The booklet contains a list titled "Christmas Carols for the Mentally Disturbed".
It then names psychiatric conditions and suggests festive songs which would suit the illness.
They include: Schizophrenia - "Do You Hear What I Hear?"; Multiple personality disorder - "We Three Kings Disorientated Are"; and Paranoid - "Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me"; and Dementia - "I Think I'll be Home for Christmas".
Attention Deficit Disorder - "Silent Night Holy, oooh look at the froggy - can I have a chocolate? Why is France so far away?"; and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells."
The magazine, called Marooned, is produced by users of the Cromwell House mental health facility in Eccles, Salford.
That unit is staffed by Salford Council care workers and others employed by the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust.
Issued four times a year, it is for users of mental health services and is produced by an editorial board made up of users with staff on hand should they need advice.
It was distributed in Salford's psychiatric clinics and drop-in centres but after a complaint from the daughter of a mental health patient, the current winter edition of the booklet has been withdrawn.
Zinette Camille, who has a family member who suffered with mental illness for 19 years made a formal complaint after picking up the magazine at the Meadowbrook psychiatric unit in the grounds of Hope Hospital.
Zinette, from Cheetham Hill, 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 was for server users and that they had not had a problem running it for 15 years.
"I said their response was not really good enough and asked whether it was not vetted by someone in authority.
"It is very degrading, and the offending page says 'Christmas Carols for the Mentally Disturbed' - people with mental health issues have a disability - they are not disturbed."
A spokesperson 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 which is made up entirely of mental health service users.
"We have also said that we would be happy to include her response to the feature in the next edition of the magazine - an invitation we would extend to any other readers who have opinions on the piece or any other articles."
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: "Whilst 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."
The ten Christmas Carols as featured in Marooned: 1. Schizophrenia - Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder - We Three Kings Disorientated Are
3. Dementia - I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas
4. Narcissistic - Hark The Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic - Deck the Halls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and...
6. Paranoid - Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder - Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder - You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder - Silent Night, Holy, ooh look at the froggy - Can I have a chocolate? Why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells.
"sigh"
Innovative Music Ping
I thought it was pretty funny myself ...
I would think that Democrat Underground would be the best place to look for those :-)
As did EVERYONE except for this ONE woman.
They're freaking NUTS! ;)
Hilarious.
Rudolph the gimpy reindeer?
Health care workers can get pretty desensitized to what they deal with every day. This kind of humor should stay in the break room.
Political Correctness and the Fear Of Offending has made them that way.
I would suggest that this woman who complained is actually in need of some help....a complete lack of a sense of humor suggests either an Extreme Liberal / Socialist / Leftist Complex or perhaps another psychiatric condition........
“They” think they’re being made fun of, but they’re really just being paranoid...
What, is she crazy?
Saw those before, pretty dern funny.
They are coming to take me away ha ha...
I have dealt with a disorder my whole life, and I’m not offended. I think the song titles are pretty funny. People need to lighten up.
16 posts, and this still isn’t in the Smokey Back Room? What is wrong with FReepers these days?
That is some funny stuff.
this was around last year & I laughed my a$$ off!
Well, if that makes them upset...this will really put thier panties in a wad:
Mental Health Hot line?
“Hello, and welcome to the mental health hot line…”
- If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.
- If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.
- If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5, and 6.
- If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call.
- If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship.
- If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press.
- If you are a manic-depressive, it doesn’t matter which number you press, no one will answer.
- If you are dyslexic, press 9696969696969696.
- If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the pound key until a representative comes on the line.
- If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother’s maiden name.
- If you have post-traumatic stress disorder, s-l-o-w-l-y & c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y press 0 0 0.
- If you have bi-polar disorder, please leave a message after the beep or before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.
- If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
- If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you.”
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