Store criticised by charities for OCd products

A MAJOR superstore has been heavily criticised for selling a line of products which charities claimed appear to joke about a serious mental illness.

The Range, a home, garden and leisure retail chain, which has stores in Cardiff and Bridgend, stocked metal wall art plaques which read: “I have got OCD: Obsessive Cat Disorder”. There was also a second plaque with the message: “I have got OCD: Obsessive Cake Disorder” and is accompanied by a picture of a cupcake.

OCD, also known as obsessive compulsive disorder, is described as “an anxiety-related condition” where a person experiences “intrusive and unwelcome obsessional thoughts”.

It is often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses or urges, such as obsessive cleaning or hoarding.

Charities such as OCD UK and Mind Cymru claimed the products, which have now been withdrawn from sale, “mock and misuse” the OCD acronym and further stigmatise people with the illness.

OCD UK’s chief executive Ashley Fulwood said: “The Range failed to realise that people with OCD ‘suffer,’ so to describe these OCD items as humorous and novelty items is extremely misguided and frankly is staggeringly offensive.

“I would go further to suggest it is an utterly contemptible comment. They have crossed a line here with these products – the fact someone signed off on these at The Range is disappointing.

“I reached out to them in the hope we could engage them in dialogue so they could choose to be part of the solution and take a proactive stance against mental health stigma but instead they have chosen to be part of the problem.”

OCD UK said it had written directly to the chain’s chief executive Nigel Oddy.

Sue O’Leary, head of operations at Mind Cymru, said: “OCD is a much misunderstood illness.

“These sorts of things make light of what can be a very isolating and difficult illness that can cause real suffering for people.

“When people make jokes about mental health problems it makes it much harder for people experiencing difficulties to speak out – and talking about mental health problems is one of the most important first steps in getting the help you need.

“There has been a lot of good work done in tackling the stigma surrounding mental health but signs like these show that there is a lot more still to be done.”

A spokesman from The Range said the products have now been removed from the shelves.

“The items in question have now been removed from sale both in our stores and on our website,” he said.

“These items were not in any way intended to belittle a serious mental health condition and we would not want at any time to cause upset or distress to any of our valued customers or their family and friends.”

Anyone needing help and advice about OCD can call Mind Cymru’s Infoline on 0300 123 3393 or visit www.mind.org.uk