I have worked on mental health projects using simulation eg with the highly trained actors who worked on the Education not Discrimination campaign run by Rethink. This is NOT my objection. I object to the fact that these are obvious caricatures, all of those shown looking akin to the "psycho" so often the image portrayed in horror films. The comment on RGU's press release that this is somehow providing students with insight into "real patients" in a "safe environment" is redolent with stigma and judgement.

Why the need for the masks at all? People with mental health issues cannot generally be identified by looking like a horror film extra. And there's the whole implied metaphor of not seeing the real person that I find incredibly distasteful.

A grotesque, stigmatising, totally counter-productive way of 'educating' students about our lives. Using any masks suggests that we have something to hide or that we 'choose' to hide behind masks. And then to use these distorted, horror movie prosthetics is simply obscene. So many service users are heroically involved in training students and the evidence base shows that direct contact with people from stigmatised groups is the most effective process. I hope the regulators step in swiftly to stop this disgusting practice.

This story is so mind-boggling that, at first, I assumed it was satire. People with mental health conditions and illnesses, myself included, are people. And we cannot be reduced to a stereotype by a mask, especially in a place that is training the professionals of the future, the people in whom we entrust our lives and our health.

Unbelievable that a service that's support to be providing understanding & support, could be contributing in such an obvious way to continuing MH stigma. Not only does it seem a huge waste of funds which are already stretched to breaking point but it's reinforcing unhelpful stereotypes. You should be teaching your students to see behind the facade. You ought to be thoroughly ashamed if yourselves. We, MH sufferers, are not monsters nor should we be portrayed as such.

Stigmatising. They look like a LOTR or dr Who character. I have not seen a patient who looked like this in my 25 yrs of mental health nursing. This idea proves there's still a lot of stigma to beat within the profession especially when teachers think their bad example is a good idea. Besides: they miss the importance of nonverbal communication. This idea isnt helping any trainee nurse and what's worse : it doesnt help those affected by mental illness

How could the use of those gruesome masks be considered useful?

will people never learn!