C.R. writes: Chrisa Hickey’s 16 year old son has a schizoaffective disorder. He’s had psychotic breaks and needed to be restrained. That’s why it was particularly hurtful when she heard about Chicago’s Robert Morris University competitive dance team’s latest performance in which college women with wild, frizzed-out hair and black makeup around their eyes danced in straitjackets.

At Waunakee High School (a Wisconsin public school), another dance team wore straitjacket-like costumes on which were printed the words “Psych Ward.”

Apparently, mental illness is one of the last remaining illnesses that it’s okay to mock.

The Chicago Tribune reports the details and also covers the responses of the responsible parties — but in all honesty they seem a bit lame and after-the-factish.

Anyone who reads this blog post knows we’re not frantically P.C., but this story really rankles. Why? Because one of the incidents happened in a not-for-profit college with a stated mission of preparing students for the real world by giving ”diverse communities” an education that’s “professional, career-focused.” They’re singing the P.C. song, but not dancing the dance, apparently.

Far more egregious is the high-school performance, paid for by tax dollars. What were the teachers thinking? With all the recent news exposes on educators in various states you would think that institutionally-sanctioned (no joke intended) mockery of mentally ill people in a school performance would cause someone to think twice.

This begs the question: What is the role of public education? See Sunflower’s refreshing comments in this recent Therapy Soup post on social skills. The post asks whether or not these skills should be taught in the classroom, and Sunflower points out that: The purpose of public education is to teach students a classic education, in order that they learn to THINK.

Wouldn’t it be better for students to choose an existing play or poem or dance to perform (with their own interpretation, naturally) rather than indulge in mockery? There are so many beautifully choreographed dances, from ethnic, to ballet, to post-modern out there for the taking.

We know stigma isn’t dead–just about every blogger on PsychCentral has blogged about this topic. And we think humor is essential medicine, not just for mental or even physical illness, but simply for life. Still this kind of mockery is not humorous.

One thing for sure about performing in straightjackets. Swan Lake, it ain’t.

What do you think?

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    Last reviewed: 16 Mar 2011