The National Trust has altered a controversial event at Aberdeen’s Crathes Castle due to pressure from mental health charities.
Escape at Crathes was advertised as an opportunity for participants to experience life within a 1950s asylum.
The event, planned to be held at the castle near Banchory, was to cost £60 for a group of ten to take part, with profits going to the National Trust for Scotland.
It would have seen players “read through patients’ notes and try to escape…before the morning med rounds begin.”
The fundraising event was, however, criticised by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) Scotland and ultimately cancelled by organisers following a social media backlash.
MHF Scotland, who campaign for social justice and mental health equity across the country, branded Escape from Crathes as “taste-less and highly ill-judged.”
The criticism came as the charity prepares for Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from May 14 to 20.
Toni Giugliano, policy manager at MHF Scotland, said: “We would never use such language to describe physical health.
“Asylums were living hell for some people who are still traumatised to this day.
“The stigma is real and if do not we call out instances like this, nothing will change.”
The charity has now invited the NTS to demonstrate its commitment to mental health issues by lighting up one of its properties in Scotland green.
Organisations across the country will do so to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
James Henderson, National Trust Scotland operations manager for Aberdeenshire, confirmed there had been a rethink on the Crathes Castle plan.
He said: “We would not want to contribute to any stigma or misperceptions around mental health and have asked the event provider to alter the setting.”
MHF welcomed the apology.
“I think it is important for leading organisations of be mindful of mental health,” Mr Giugliano said.
