I’ve never been a fan of haunted houses, maybe because of all the creatures lurking behind doors being paid to scare me or the excessive amount of screaming that follows. But for the first time this year, I noticed something that struck concern in me.

The next time you go into a haunted house, you’re bound to see zombies, ghouls, witches, and mental patients. The fact that these fantastical, horrifying creatures are being grouped into the same category as people with mental illnesses is something that should have been addressed long ago.

I simply don’t understand how, in an era as sensitive and socially aware as this, we are allowing such an awful portrayal of mental illness be broadcasted for the entertainment of others. A patient screaming in a straitjacket is only worsening the way see these people.

I realize that this is a silly analogy, but I’m sure most of you have seen Halloweentown 2. You may remember that the creatures were thought of as terrifying by humans. During a trip to the mall, they look into a window of a Halloween store and are faced with more gruesome versions of themselves. “No wonder people are scared of us, I’m scared of us,” they said.

I understand that relating such a serious topic to a Disney channel movie may not be the most effective, but if there’s anything I can do to help people relate to an issue more, I will.

It’s important that we recognize how we are portraying these people in society, whether it be mental patients, the disabled, the LGBTQ community, or anyone else who may be seen as “different.” You may not think that a prop in a haunted house will affect the way someone is seen, but think of it this way: If a child sees something writhing and screeching at them, they are bound to see whatever it is in a negative light. These people with stories and struggles should never be put in a place meant to instill fear in people.