Use of prosthetic masks for training nurses in mental health reviewed after criticism
A university is to review its use of Hollywood-style masks to train nurses after mental health campaigners questioned the ethics behind their use.
Lecturers at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen used prosthetic masks, such as the one pictured below, for role play to gauge how certain types of character are perceived by others as part of a nursing course.
One character was a Doric-speaking, north-east farmer with depression while another was a victim of sexual violence who had an anxiety disorder.
But there were fears that the role play was making mental health stigma worse.
Mental health awareness organisation See Me welcomed the review.
A statement said: "We have been in discussion with the university and understand there was significant consideration put into the development of the masks.
"However, we are very concerned that the visual appearance of the masks has the potential to increase the stigma associated with mental illness by reinforcing negative perceptions, not only in the general public, but also in the next generation of mental health professionals.
"There has been a strong negative reaction to the masks and we regret the public's reaction was not fully considered.
"We will be visiting Robert Gordon University in the near future to discuss this issue and we welcome the opportunity to work with organisations to ensure stigma and discrimination is addressed appropriately within the mental health curriculum."
A spokesman for Robert Gordon University said it was not its intention to add to the stigmatisation of people with mental health problems but saw role play, which includes the use of volunteer patients and actors, as a useful part of teaching, helping students gain an understanding of stigma.
He added: “We intend to review our use of masks by further evaluating their acceptability and effectiveness and will again involve a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience, as we have done to date in developing this approach.
“During this process we will also curtail the use of the masks out of respect for those who have expressed discomfort at their use.
“We also want to affirm that we are fully committed to educating mental health nurses whose sole focus is on improving the quality of life for people with mental health problems and apologise to anyone who took offence.”
