01-22-2005, 04:17 AM
http://www2.townonline .com/westborough/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=169352
Heart sick over Valentine's bear
By Judy Powell/ News Correspondent
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company promises "she'll go nuts over this bear," and they were right.
When Maureen McNamara first heard about the Crazy for You Bear being marketed in time for Valentine's Day, she "lost it."
"I couldn't believe how insensitive this was," the Partridge Road resident explains. "I was deeply offended, but unfortunately, not surprised."
The brown teddy bear is dressed in a white straitjacket embroidered with a red heart.
For $69.95, the 15-inch stuffed animal comes with its own "Commitment Report," which reads: "Can't Eat, Can't Sleep, My Heart's Racing; Diagnosis - Crazy for You!"
As the mother of a mentally ill 13-year-old boy, McNamara has experienced the trauma of watching her son, Evan, being wrapped in a mechanical restraint or straight jacket.
Along with her husband, Pete, she also has signed commitment reports for Evan's four separate psychiatric hospitalizations.
"There is a tremendous stigma in raising a child with complex mental illness, and I feel strongly that as a family we need to educate people in our communities to elevate mental disabilities to the same level of respect and care of those who are physically disabled," she explains.
To that end, McNamara has started a petition drive asking The Vermont Teddy Bear Company to stop pro
duction on the Crazy For You Bear.
She is not alone in her response to the product.
Resident Lois DeRusha works as a Parent Support Coordinator for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. A friend of McNamara's, she was "tremendously disturbed" when she learned about the teddy bear.
"I see first hand the heartbreak families go through on a daily basis when they have children with behavioral, emotional or mental health issues," DeRusha explains. "The Vermont Teddy Bear Company's Crazy For You Bear isn't even on the radar screen of political correctness.
"Imagine the outrage if they were to promote the cancer bear or the AIDS bear?" she asks.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is encouraging people to contact the Shelburne, Vt.-based company and register their complaints.
To date, the protest has garnered an apology from the company, but no agreement to stop production on the bear.
"We recognize that this is a sensitive, human issue and sincerely apologize if we have offended anyone," the company said in a statement. "That was certainly not our intent. This bear was created in the spirit of Valentine's Day, and as with all of our bears, it was designed to be a light-hearted depiction of the sentiment of love."
Nicole L'Huillier, public relations manager for the company, said they want to arrange a meeting with NAMI representatives to discuss the issue of stigmatization further although no date has been set.
In addition, a specific email address and toll free phone line for comments on the bear has been set up and, she says, monitored daily. That number is 1-888-502-1715, and bearcomments@vtbear.com.
For McNamara, nothing short of pulling the bear off the assembly line will do.
"It's never too late. Acknowledging this mistake will be taken as an educated, courageous move by the company. Standing firm will be viewed as arrogance, and I predict it will do more harm to the company than good."
As she travels door to door collecting signatures, McNamara says she has been encouraged by the response.
In a show of solidarity, neighborhood children who have witnessed Evan's struggles, are offering to circulate the petition at Fales, Mill Pond, Gibbons and the high school.
"I feel truly blessed that these kids embrace and support this cause," she says.
And Evan will ask his classmates at The Perkins School in Lancaster to voice their concern by signing the document.
With a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features and Asperger's Syndrome, Evan's reaction when learning about the bear was disbelief.
"I've been in a straight jacket and that's not funny," he explains. "Why would someone buy it? I think they should say they're sorry and take the jacket off the bear."
Meanwhile, McNamara plans to send the signatures along with a letter detailing Evan's medical condition to the president and CEO of The Vermont Bear Company, Elisabeth Robert.
She hopes her grass-root effort will accomplish three things. McNamara wants to raise awareness and sensitivity to mental illness, stop production of the bear, and advocate for the manufacturing of responsible products.
"As a parent of a mentally ill child, this is an opportunity to speak out for what is right. The fact that a highly-respected company is marketing a bear for profit in a straight jacket just shows you that educated people still don't get it."
McNamara says she thinks the stated mission of the Vermont Bear Company "To make the world a better place... one Bear at a time," should extend to the millions of families affected by mental illness.
"I just can't believe that people would buy this bear as a token of love. Is this where we are as a society?" she asks shaking her head. "I hope not.
Heart sick over Valentine's bear
By Judy Powell/ News Correspondent
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company promises "she'll go nuts over this bear," and they were right.
When Maureen McNamara first heard about the Crazy for You Bear being marketed in time for Valentine's Day, she "lost it."
"I couldn't believe how insensitive this was," the Partridge Road resident explains. "I was deeply offended, but unfortunately, not surprised."
The brown teddy bear is dressed in a white straitjacket embroidered with a red heart.
For $69.95, the 15-inch stuffed animal comes with its own "Commitment Report," which reads: "Can't Eat, Can't Sleep, My Heart's Racing; Diagnosis - Crazy for You!"
As the mother of a mentally ill 13-year-old boy, McNamara has experienced the trauma of watching her son, Evan, being wrapped in a mechanical restraint or straight jacket.
Along with her husband, Pete, she also has signed commitment reports for Evan's four separate psychiatric hospitalizations.
"There is a tremendous stigma in raising a child with complex mental illness, and I feel strongly that as a family we need to educate people in our communities to elevate mental disabilities to the same level of respect and care of those who are physically disabled," she explains.
To that end, McNamara has started a petition drive asking The Vermont Teddy Bear Company to stop pro
duction on the Crazy For You Bear.
She is not alone in her response to the product.
Resident Lois DeRusha works as a Parent Support Coordinator for Wayside Youth & Family Support Network. A friend of McNamara's, she was "tremendously disturbed" when she learned about the teddy bear.
"I see first hand the heartbreak families go through on a daily basis when they have children with behavioral, emotional or mental health issues," DeRusha explains. "The Vermont Teddy Bear Company's Crazy For You Bear isn't even on the radar screen of political correctness.
"Imagine the outrage if they were to promote the cancer bear or the AIDS bear?" she asks.
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) is encouraging people to contact the Shelburne, Vt.-based company and register their complaints.
To date, the protest has garnered an apology from the company, but no agreement to stop production on the bear.
"We recognize that this is a sensitive, human issue and sincerely apologize if we have offended anyone," the company said in a statement. "That was certainly not our intent. This bear was created in the spirit of Valentine's Day, and as with all of our bears, it was designed to be a light-hearted depiction of the sentiment of love."
Nicole L'Huillier, public relations manager for the company, said they want to arrange a meeting with NAMI representatives to discuss the issue of stigmatization further although no date has been set.
In addition, a specific email address and toll free phone line for comments on the bear has been set up and, she says, monitored daily. That number is 1-888-502-1715, and bearcomments@vtbear.com.
For McNamara, nothing short of pulling the bear off the assembly line will do.
"It's never too late. Acknowledging this mistake will be taken as an educated, courageous move by the company. Standing firm will be viewed as arrogance, and I predict it will do more harm to the company than good."
As she travels door to door collecting signatures, McNamara says she has been encouraged by the response.
In a show of solidarity, neighborhood children who have witnessed Evan's struggles, are offering to circulate the petition at Fales, Mill Pond, Gibbons and the high school.
"I feel truly blessed that these kids embrace and support this cause," she says.
And Evan will ask his classmates at The Perkins School in Lancaster to voice their concern by signing the document.
With a diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features and Asperger's Syndrome, Evan's reaction when learning about the bear was disbelief.
"I've been in a straight jacket and that's not funny," he explains. "Why would someone buy it? I think they should say they're sorry and take the jacket off the bear."
Meanwhile, McNamara plans to send the signatures along with a letter detailing Evan's medical condition to the president and CEO of The Vermont Bear Company, Elisabeth Robert.
She hopes her grass-root effort will accomplish three things. McNamara wants to raise awareness and sensitivity to mental illness, stop production of the bear, and advocate for the manufacturing of responsible products.
"As a parent of a mentally ill child, this is an opportunity to speak out for what is right. The fact that a highly-respected company is marketing a bear for profit in a straight jacket just shows you that educated people still don't get it."
McNamara says she thinks the stated mission of the Vermont Bear Company "To make the world a better place... one Bear at a time," should extend to the millions of families affected by mental illness.
"I just can't believe that people would buy this bear as a token of love. Is this where we are as a society?" she asks shaking her head. "I hope not.
