British Stores Apologize For Mental Patient Halloween Costumes

Accused on insensitivity

LONDON (AP) — Two British supermarket chains have apologized for selling Halloween costumes that made insensitive references to mental health issues.

Mental health groups condemned retailer Asda for offering an outfit including a blood-splattered straitjacket and a meat cleaver, labeled as "mental patient fancy dress costume."

Paul Jenkins, chief executive of the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said the costume was "breathtakingly insensitive" and would add to the stigma surrounding mental illness.