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but after a complaint from the daughter of a mental health patient, the current winter edition of the booklet has been withdrawn.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.
Why are we no longer allowed to laugh at ourselves and the human condition?
This must be the same outfit that programmed the phone bank at Kucinich's campaign headquarters.
I am always delighted when people add topics or keywords to my threads......please add whatever you think is appropriate :-)
These mental health care workers need humor as a release from the stress of taking care of those with whom society cannot be be bothered. Actually, these are funny because there is a strong element of truth in them.
I respectfully suggest that you lighten up. You may think that being "outraged" by this makes you a better person, but it really only points out that you are humorless and sad little black hole in society.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not out to get you. :=)
The one about short-term memory loss really put me over the edge!
Okay, thanks. Loonytunes is mine.
Crank up your speakers and get into the Christmas mood.
http://mrsgrundy.com/@Storage/_files/37/file.mp3
LOL - some of those were pretty good!
It was put together by the patients!
He's fat and people laugh at his belly. That is insulting to the vertically challenged. Pay attention, XL people.
How come Mrs. Claus never gets to take the reindeer out. That is sexist. Feminists, unite
How much do the elves get paid? Nothing? That's slave labor. Do something, little people.
Why doesn't he set up shop somewhere more carbon friendly? Can you imagine how much energy it takes to run that place. Globalists wake up!Yohoo ..Al baby.
And finally, how come good kids don't all get the same gifts? He needs to take some from the rich kids to give to the poor kids. Socialist Senators, some more wealth distribution needed....Santa's Law?
OUCH!!!
I think that constitutes assault.
Silent Night, Lonely Night?
I could almost handle it as a bad good faith attempt until he launched into the falsetto. At that point I had a seizure.
Oh and Grannys, unite. There is nothing funny at all about Grandma getting run over by a reindeer.
My puppy yelped!
True story:
My wife is a Therapist and works with developmentally disabled children. She was working with a mildly severe young boy whose real name is "Einstein". One day while working with a new colleague they were treating this boy (the new person had not heard his name), my wife exclaimed:
"Good job.......... Einstein!"
The look on the new person's face was one of utter disdain, as she thought my wife was being sarcastic to the boy.
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