Just a quick reminder to everyone that while Halloween can be a fun time of year with dressing up in costumes and all of the candy, it is also a time of year that some of societies most overt stigmatization of individuals with a mental health diagnosis occurs.  From the "haunted asylum" attractions to the costumes that incorporate straight jackets Halloween has become a time of year to fear for consumers of mental health services.  Along with the ghosts, goblins and ghouls many of the other sites that have become synonymous with Halloween act as a reminder that individuals with a mental illness are dangerous and should be feared.  This is hurtful and offensive to those individuals.

Dressing up in "blackface" or as someone with cancer would not be acceptable.  So why is it OK to stigmatize those with a mental illness?!?  This year, if you see attractions such as Field of Screams which has a "Haunted Asylum" don't support their prejudice, backward thinking by giving them your hard-earned money.  Find alternatives such as Jason's Woods.  And if you see someone dressed up in a way that belittles or humiliaties another human being talk to them about how this is unacceptable.

Here's to wishing everyone a safe, fun and respectful Halloween.