Kasabian are set for yet another big year. Having recently knocked our socks off with their Like A Version performance, and with their newest record, For Crying Out Loud, slated to be released later this month, the English rockers are set to be critically acclaimed by the music press once again. However, with the release of the video for their newest track, ‘You’re In Love With A Psycho’, the group have been the subject of criticism from a British mental health charity.
As NME reports, the video, which sees the group dancing around the West Pauper Lunatic Asylum (which is also the name of their 2009 record), has been criticised for being ‘damaging’ and ‘unhelpful’ to the current stigma of mental health.
The video also features legendary comic Noel Fielding, and has been well received by many, but as Sue Barker, the director of the charity Time To Change, has stated to NME, it is doing nothing but harm those it is apparently mocking.
“The use of the word ‘psycho’ in a song and accompanying music video featuring people pretending to be psychiatric inpatients is unhelpful, damaging and disappointing when society is moving on from this sad and tired stereotype,” Barker said. “We are sure the insult and harm was unintentional, or misjudged irony, but we are raising it as we know it will only serve to fuel stigma.”
“If fans think it is OK to call people with mental health problems who have been psychiatric inpatients ‘psychos’, then we are turning back the tide of progress on public attitudes that are more respectful and less judgemental of people living with mental health problems,” she continued.
Kasabian are yet to make any comments regarding the video, but with far greater attention being put on mental health in recent years, including frequent coverage from our own Aussie rapper 360, it is definitely disappointing to see a lack of sensitivity towards issues of this nature. Check out the video for ‘You’re In Love With A Psycho’ below.
If you or someone you know needs personal help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.
