The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a non-profit organisation in Des Moines, Iowa, has put pressure on a local escape room company to end their psyche ward themed escape room. Citing the damage and offence it could cause to people with mental health issues.

In the controversially themed room, players are locked in the ‘psyche ward’ and must escape “Dr. Shaston Gunter” – a recently admitted patient. To escape, they need to find clues, which ultimately lead to the whereabouts of Dr. Gunter’s chemical attack plans.

Peggy Huppert, the executive director of the Iowa branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has criticised the escape room for adding to the stigma of mental health illness. Huppert said that NAMI requested for The Escape Room Company to end the room’s operation but to no avail.

Huppert said, “It’s because of the negativity and stereotypes related to mental illness they think this is okay, it’s actually very hurtful.”

The Escape Room owner, Nate Tvedt, said he understands how the room may be viewed as offensive and reiterated that the room will be changed to a different theme by the end of the year, as opposed to immediately, due to the amount of resources the change will require.

For more information visit The Escape Room’s Website: https://www.theescape.com/desm...