The New York Times and The Washington Post take on the harmful depictions of mental health in Halloween attractions

We are pleased to share a New York Times piece by the award-winning author Andrew Solomon, MHA's 2013 Phoenix Award recipient. "Mental Illness Is Not A Horror Show" explores the recent crop of amusement park attractions dehumanizing (and monetizing) mental health issues, and Andrew's own reflections on his lived experience thoughtfully capture the heart of this issue:

"The misperception that mentally ill people are inherently dangerous is one of the most treacherous ideas in circulation about us."

In addition to Solomon's moving piece, The Washington Post published an article this week about the "asylum-based" Halloween attractions that mental health advocates are taking on.

We are grateful for the ongoing coverage as we continue to raise awareness about these harmful depictions. Thank you to everyone who voiced their concerns to amusement parks around the country this month. Hopefully this is a battle that we will not have to fight next October.