‘Crazy Day’ is an annual retail sale in Ararat, with many local businesses participating. The Ararat Advertiser ran an advert for the day in April 2008. The ad featured a man struggling in a strait jacket.

Some community members contacted StigmaWatch, stating that terming the event ‘Crazy Day’ and using this image explicitly referenced mental illness in a way that is trivialising and mocking.

StigmaWatch contacted The Ararat Advertiser urging the paper not to run this ad in future. Using mental illness to promote a sale is inappropriate and may seriously impact on people whose lives are affected by mental illness. The image of a strait jacket may also encourage the misconception that all people with a mental illness are violent.

Roger Le Grand, Manager of The Ararat Advertiser said:

'The Ararat Advertiser notes your concerns and regrets any alarm or distress that the branding of Crazy Day may have caused.
Crazy Day has been part of the Ararat retail calendar for many many years. We will however discuss with our Business Association partners changing the name of Crazy Day for future events.'

Mr Le Grand gave his assurance that the image of the strait jacket would not be used again.