Image Credit: NAMI
Certain types of words or phrases can make conversations about mental health worse than good. We have the power to choose the words we use to describe ourselves and others, and we can improve the conversation about mental health. Being aware of our language can give compassion and encouragement to those suffering from mental illness to ask for help.
The stigma surrounding mental illness, suicide, and drug use starts with how we use language—it’s constantly evolving. That’s why we all need to be aware of the outdated language used in the media and around us every day. Anyone can be an anti-stigma fighter by advocating for specific and respectful language. Be aware of the effects of your language when interacting with others. Language can provide context to many people, further tricking them into thinking they are suffering from “something”. ” that they really shouldn’t be — or worse, that this “something” somehow defines them as lesser members of the world.
When we choose our language, different parts of our brain are activated to process what we hear and internalize that information. The “thinking brain” and the “feeling brain” is an important factor in why mental health language is important. The “feeling brain” works automatically and quickly, with little or no effort, and without voluntary control. This part of our brain is responsible for most of our daily actions and has learned to distinguish between the unexpected and the expected. This makes activities like walking, reading, and understanding the nuances of social situations effortless.
“Thinking Brain”
“Thinking brain” focuses attention on demanding mental activities.This part of our brain represents our conscious, decision-making self that makes decisions, solves complex mathematical calculations and helps us perform more complex tasks such as parking and writing (Kousoulis, 2019).
“Feeling Brain”
Compared to the thinking brain, which is relatively young and undeveloped (in terms of millennia), the Feeling Brain has evolved over millions of years. It creates several very complex associations every minute that help us live a normal life. Our thinking brain is usually lazy and indifferent when not asked, so the Feeling Brain mostly controls our thinking. The fast-thinking Feeling Brain is always trying to make simple causal connections. This is especially important for our language.
Evidence shows that the Feeling Brain easily and effortlessly takes responsibility for responding to words. This is called “associative activation”, which is the simple result of seeing or hearing a word. A word brings an idea, and an idea triggers many other ideas. Our Feeling Brain is constantly making connections between all these ideas, bringing up memories that trigger feelings that trigger other reactions. It is a cascade of activity in our brain that happens rapidly without virtual conscious control. It produces a sequence or pattern of cognitive, emotional and physical responses. We react to words without even thinking. Therefore, using negative language to talk about important topics leads to the internalization of negativity, which adapts to our brain without conscious effort.
Many health institutions recommend a transition from people’s mother tongue to the first language of identity to promote positive thinking. Most people who struggle with mental health problems or illnesses use their own language. When writing, person-first language is the recommended first choice, unless you know a person or group describes themselves differently. When you talk to a person experiencing a mental illness, listen or ask them what language they use. Person-first language emphasizes the person before the disability, such as “person who is blind” or “person who has a spinal cord injury”.
People-First Language
Many health institutions recommend a transition from identity-first language to people-first language to promote positive thinking.
Person-first language emphasizes the person before the disability, such as “person who is blind” or “person who has a spinal cord injury” (Houston, 2022).
Identity-First Language
Identity-first language prioritizes the description of disability, such as “disabled” or “autistic” first. Person-first or identity-first language is equally appropriate according to personal preference (Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 2023).
Here is a list of alternative recommended phrases to promote positive mental health discussions. Instead of saying: “this person suffers from depression”, we say he/she is living with or experiencing depression, because when we talk about mental health issues, we shouldn’t paint someone as a victim (CAMH, 2020).
Say he/she died by or lost their life to suicide, since the word “commit” implies a sin or crime, which increases the perception that suicide is a selfish act.
Instead of saying they are schizophrenic, say they have schizophrenia, because we should always try to accept the person first and then the illness.
Instead of saying “substance abuse”, say substance use or substance use disorder. When we talk about mental health disorders, we want to avoid using expressions that evoke negative attitudes.
These are just a few examples of common stigmatized mental health dialogue, so we can alter our thinking and have positive mental health discussions (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2020).
Stigma is particularly difficult to remove even through educational and other means, and carefully crafted language is only one part of the problem. However, it is also one of the most direct ways that people communicating stigmatized conditions can contribute to change. It is very important to help educate the general public about conditions that have long been and continue to be misunderstood.
References:
CAMH. (2023, July 23). Words matter. Words Matter. https://www.camh.ca/en/today-campaign/help-and-resources/words-matter
Canada, E. (2023, June 21). Why inclusive language is essential to our mental health. https://www.edgewoodhealthnetwork.com/resources/blog/why-inclusive-language-is-essential-to-our-mental-health/
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. (2023, August 10). Language matters in mental health. https://hogg.utexas.edu/news-resources/language-matters-in-mental-health
Kousoulis, A. (2019, May 2). Why the language we use to describe mental health matters. Why the Language we Use to Describe Mental Health Matters. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/why-language-we-use-describe-mental-health-matters
Villemaire, P. (2023, October 12). Combat Mental Health Stigma with a shift towards people-first language. Combat Mental Health Stigma with a Shift Towards People-First Language. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/blog-posts/21408-combat-mental-health-stigma-with-a-shift-towards-people-first-language/
Note: The Free Your Mind Mental Health Society is an independent youth-led organization. The contents of this blog are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In the event of a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 911 or other local emergency numbers immediately.