The language used when communicating about mental health concerns can play a big role in keeping alive stereotypes, myths and stigma.
It is important that all organisations and individuals discussing mental health concerns avoid using stigmatising terminology and language.
In many cultures ‘mental illness’ is a foreign and ambiguous concept. If understood at all, it can be heavily stigmatised and the idea of recovery is almost unknown.
Mindframe has recommendations for communicating about mental health concerns and what language may present inaccuracies and further perpetuate stigma.
Consider the language you use around mental health concerns
| Issue | Problematic | Preferred |
|---|---|---|
|
Certain language sensationalises mental health concerns and reinforces stigma |
Terms such as 'mental patient', 'nutter', 'lunatic', 'psycho', 'schizo', 'deranged', 'mad' |
A person is 'living with' or 'has a diagnosis of' a mental illness |
|
Terminology that suggests a lack of quality of life for people with mental health concerns |
Referring to someone with a mental illness as a 'victim', 'suffering from' or 'afflicted with' a mental illness |
A person is 'being treated for' or 'someone with' a mental illness |
|
Labelling a person by their mental health diagnosis |
A person is a 'schizophrenic', 'an anorexic' |
A person 'has a diagnosis of' or 'is being treated for' schizophrenia. |
|
Descriptions of behaviour that imply existence of mental health concerns or are inaccurate |
Using words such as 'crazed', 'deranged', 'mad', 'psychotic' |
The person's behaviour was unusual or erratic |
|
Colloquialisms about treatment can undermine people's willingness to seek help |
Using words such as 'happy pills', 'shrinks', 'mental institution' |
Accurate terminology for treatments e.g. antidepressants, psychiatrists or psychologists, mental health hospital |
|
Terminology used out of context adds to misunderstanding and trivialises mental health concerns |
Terms like 'psychotic dog', using 'schizophrenic' to denote duality such as 'schizophrenic economy' |
Reword any sentence that uses psychiatric or medical terminology incorrectly or out of context |