"ME, MYSELF AND IRENE"

Early day motion 128, tabled 19 December 2000 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House recognises that Standard One of the Department of Health's National Service Framework for Mental Health seeks to promote the social inclusion of people with mental health problems, and regrets that 20th Century Fox has not listened to concerns from a coalition of 13 national mental health organisations and now plans to release on video its film,' Me, Myself and Irene'; notes that the film portrays a man with 'advanced delusionary schizophrenia with involuntary narcissistic rage' who switches from a mild mannered person when mentally well to an unpredictable and dangerous character when mentally unwell and points out that this is a fictional diagnosis exploiting a lack of public understanding about mental health and playing on unfounded stereotypes about people who are mentally unwell; considers that this film undermines welcome attempts to break down public misunderstanding and discrimination; and calls on Twentieth Century Fox to work with the 13 national mental health organisations that he raised concerns about the film to provide accurate information and advice to people renting or purchasing the video and ensure that publicity for the film does not give rise to offence to people with mental illness.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 2, UUP 2, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.