An Ankeny family says they were emotionally triggered by a local escape room. They're now seeking action.

The National Alliance on Mental Health in Iowa is raising concerns about an escape room experienced themed after a psychiatric ward.KCCI spoke with management of The Escape Room Ankeny after being contacted by concerned families who said they felt emotionally triggered by a “Psych Ward” escape room.The family joined forces with NAMI Iowa to explain to the business owners how the themed room reinforces stigma surrounding mental health."This is personal to me because I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety,” said Terri Hale, a concerned Escape Room customer. “I have many loved ones who struggle with mental illness, and i understand how powerful that stigma can be.”"We've actually had people who have had experience in the psych ward actually working here underneath my employ and they had no problem running the rooms,” said Nate Tvedt, who manages The Escape Room.The owner of The Escape Room showed KCCI email correspondence between himself and NAMI and said the business promised to retire the “Psych Ward” in about six months at both locations.NAMI and families involved said the owner has evaded communication and the changes offered are far from satisfactory.“We first objected to the Psych Ward in early February,” said Peggy Huppert, executive director of NAMI Iowa. “We had email exchanges for several months, then finally met in person in April. We asked for the room to be changed within a month and they responded that they wouldn't do anything until next February, an entire year since it was open. That was not acceptable to us, and the owners know it.”

The National Alliance on Mental Health in Iowa is raising concerns about an escape room experienced themed after a psychiatric ward.


KCCI spoke with management of The Escape Room Ankeny after being contacted by concerned families who said they felt emotionally triggered by a “Psych Ward” escape room.

The family joined forces with NAMI Iowa to explain to the business owners how the themed room reinforces stigma surrounding mental health.

"This is personal to me because I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety,” said Terri Hale, a concerned Escape Room customer. “I have many loved ones who struggle with mental illness, and i understand how powerful that stigma can be.”

"We've actually had people who have had experience in the psych ward actually working here underneath my employ and they had no problem running the rooms,” said Nate Tvedt, who manages The Escape Room.

The owner of The Escape Room showed KCCI email correspondence between himself and NAMI and said the business promised to retire the “Psych Ward” in about six months at both locations.

NAMI and families involved said the owner has evaded communication and the changes offered are far from satisfactory.

“We first objected to the Psych Ward in early February,” said Peggy Huppert, executive director of NAMI Iowa. “We had email exchanges for several months, then finally met in person in April. We asked for the room to be changed within a month and they responded that they wouldn't do anything until next February, an entire year since it was open. That was not acceptable to us, and the owners know it.”