A MUM-OF-THREE who suffered mental health issues has described a supermarket’s ‘mental patient fancy dress costume’ as ‘disgusting’.

Tina Ball, of Taunton, said she was appalled when she heard supermarket chain ASDA was selling the outfit, with Tesco’s version a ‘psycho ward’ costume also released.

Both supermarkets have now withdrawn them after they were criticised for stigmatising people with mental health issues.

But Tina, 35, who has suffered with a mental illness for 14 years, said there are better ways to recognise the illness, describing the costumes as ‘terribly degrading’. She added: “It’s already hard enough as it is for this horrible illness to be recognised as that.

“If I went to a party and saw someone dressed in one of those outfits I would have to walk away – mental illnesses are not a laughing matter and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

“For this situation to come about is absolutely appalling and to have somebody dressed up mocking that is quite distressing.”

The £20 ASDA outfit included ragged clothing, fake blood, a mask and a fake meat cleaver while Tesco's orange boiler suit came with a plastic jaw restraint and offered to ‘complete the look’ with a machete.

Both ASDA and Tesco apologised for any offence caused and agreed to make donations to the mental health charity Mind.

Tina, who has three children aged ten, seven and 17 months, said charities like Mind help to save people’s lives on a daily basis.

She added: “They have been so good and so supportive with me – it had pots of money I would give it to them.”

Fancy dress store Party-On Events in High Street, Taunton, said they have 3,000 Hallowe’en products this year but admitted they are becoming progressively more gruesome.

He added: “We take extra care to make sure our products are worded correctly so that it does not offend anyone. Outfits are becoming more run of the mill now such as office zombies so people can relate to them in everyday life.”