Talking About Mental Health
Words can help and heal, or hurt and hinder. They can make things clear, or confusing. The right words can encourage more people to seek help and to offer support.
Why 'Mental Fitness'?
The way we communicate about mental health can have a powerful impact. At Gotcha4Life, we talk about ‘mental fitness’ rather than ‘mental health’.
The term ‘mental health’ resonates with some people, and it can be confusing and feel overwhelming, or irrelevant to others. We have found that it can carry some negative connotations. Sometimes it can be loaded with assumptions, and that can stop people seeking help when they need it. That’s also why we advocate for the use of non-judgmental language that avoids stereotypes and reduces harm and stigma.
The reality is, we all have mental health – just as we all have physical health. Just as our physical health exists along a continuum, our mental health also spans a range from thriving and feeling mentally fit to moments of challenge and growth.
We inspire and support people to take action to build their mental fitness, just like they would their physical fitness. We believe this is one effective way to encourage regular attention to proactively building mental health.
Everyday expressions
We might not mean to cause hurt, but our language can have a negative impact on people with a lived experience of mental health challenges.
Here are some common examples:
- That’s hysterical/crazy/madness
- I’m losing my mind/losing it/having a breakdown
- I’ve had a manic/crazy day
- That’s insanely difficult
- That’s insane
And here are some more neutral ways to say the same thing:
And here are some more neutral ways to say the same thing:
- That’s hilarious/bizarre/unreasonable
- I’m so confused/I’m not thinking clearly
- I’ve had a super busy/full-on day
- That’s incredibly difficult
- That’s unbelievable
A better way to say it
When you understand why certain language can harm and hurt, it is easier to avoid using it.
Problematic
Why?
What to say instead?
‘mental patient’, ‘nut job’, ‘lunatic’, ‘psycho’, ‘mad’
Sensationalises mental ill-health and reinforces stigma
A person is ‘living with’ or ‘has a diagnosis of a mental illness’
Someone is a ‘victim of mental illness’ or ‘suffering from mental illness’
Suggests people with mental ill-health lack quality of life
The person is ‘being treated for’ or is ‘someone with’ a mental illness
Someone is ’a schizophrenic’ or ‘an anorexic’
Labels the person by their mental illness
They ‘have a diagnosis of’ or are ‘being treated for’ schizophrenia or anorexia
‘crazed’, ‘deranged’, ‘mad’, ‘psychotic’
Implies mental health issues when describing people’s behaviour
Their behaviour was erratic or very unusual
‘Happy pills’, ‘shrink’, ‘mental institution’, ‘funny farm’
Undermines people’s willingness to seek help by using colloquial language to describe treatment
Problematic
‘mental patient’, ‘nut job’, ‘lunatic’, ‘psycho’, ‘mad’
Why?
Sensationalises mental ill-health and reinforces stigma
What to say instead?
A person is living with or has a diagnosis of a mental illness
Problematic
Someone is a ‘victim of mental illness’ or ‘suffering from mental illness’
Why?
Suggests people with mental ill-health lack quality of life
What to say instead?
The person is ‘being treated for’ or is ‘someone with’ a mental illness
Problematic
Someone is ’a schizophrenic’ or ‘an anorexic’
Why?
Labels the person by their mental illness
What to say instead?
They ‘have a diagnosis of’ or are ‘being treated for’ schizophrenia or anorexia
Problematic
‘crazed’, ‘deranged’, ‘mad’, psychotic’
Why?
Implies mental health issues when describing people’s behaviour
What to say instead?
Their behaviour was erratic or very unusual
Problematic
‘Happy pills’, ‘shrink’, ‘mental institution’, ‘funny farm’
Why?
Undermines people’s willingness to seek help by using colloquial language to describe treatment
What to say instead?
Use accurate terminology for treatment, such as antidepressant, psychiatrist, mental health hospital
Communicating about suicide
The words we use to describe suicide are important. Insensitive or inappropriate language around suicide can increase the stigma around it, stop people seeking help and make grief worse for those affected by it.
Help Someone You Care About
A conversation with someone you’re worried about can make all the difference and help them feel they’re not alone.
