Language is the foundation of connection. It has the power to either reinforce old stigmas or create a safe harbor for healing. When we shift our language, we shift our culture, moving from judgment and silence toward empathy and action. Let’s explore how to choose words that honor the person, not just the diagnosis.
The words you use can break down negative stereotypes and give people hope. By choosing words that are relatable and promote understanding, you help others feel comfortable reaching out for support early.
Using Inclusive Language
The words you use can break down negative stereotypes and give people hope. By choosing words that are relatable and promote understanding, you help others feel comfortable reaching out for support early.
Person-First Language
Person-First means using language to recognize a person’s experience with mental health as only part of them as a person, and not the whole.
| Avoid Saying | Consider Saying |
| “A schizophrenic” | “Person living with schizophrenia” |
| “My OCD brother” | “My brother living with OCD” |
| “She is an addict” | “She is a person recovering from addiction” |
Normalizing Language
Practice normalizing what someone is going through and not minimizing, downplaying, or judging their experience with mental health. When we normalize these experiences, we can help people open up more.
| Avoid Saying | Consider Saying |
| “Depression is not a bad illness to have.” | “It’s understandable to be feeling down with everything going on.” |
| “Some people have it way worse.” | “What you’re going through is challenging.” |
| “Why can’t you just chill out?” | “I can see you’re feeling overwhelmed; is there anything I can do to help?” |
| “They’re crazy” (This sensationalizes a real medical crisis). | “They’re receiving treatment for a mental health condition.” |
Mind Colloquial Language
Words and phrases that are second-nature to us (slang or colloquial expressions) may be rooted in problematic assumptions, which can hurt those around us.
| Avoid Saying | Consider Saying |
| “I have such ADHD right now.” | “I’m having trouble focusing.” |
| “This weather is bipolar.” | “The weather is fluctuating a lot today.” |
| “I’m so OCD about this kind of stuff.” | “I like things done in a particular way.” |
| “That’s insane!” or “That’s crazy!” | That’s unreal!” or “That’s wild!” |
Language Around Suicide
As one of the most stigmatized topics, it’s helpful to have the right language when talking about suicide. Research shows that talking about and explicitly asking about suicide can greatly reduce the risk of someone dying by suicide.
| Avoid Saying | Consider Saying |
| “Committed suicide” (This implies a crime) | “Died by suicide” or “Ended their own life.” |
| “Successful suicide” or “Unsuccessful suicide.” | “Attempted suicide.” |
| “You’re not thinking of killing yourself, are you?” (This can feel judgmental). | “Sometimes when people feel this way, they think about ending their life. Are you having these thoughts?” |
| “I want to kill myself, that was so embarrassing” (Avoid casual mentions). | “That was so embarrassing, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up” or “I’m so mortified.” |
The Stigmatized Word in Mental Health Conversations
Have you noticed that stigma seems to exist inside certain words and expressions? It shows up when someone chooses the word “insane” to dismiss an individual they disagree with or a behavior they don’t understand. The misuse of these terms, while often not an intentional slight, lacks an understanding of what it is actually like to live with these conditions. It turns a debilitating medical reality into a punchline or a personality quirk.
The Power of “Just”
Have you noticed how stigma can lurk in the smallest corners of our conversations? Specifically, the word “just.” Often, “just” hovers right in front of a judgment. We might say, “She just needs to take her meds” or “It’s just a mood swing.”
When we use “just,” we are often:
- Prescribing: “If she could just get out of bed in the morning and take a shower, her day would go better.” It assumes the solution is a simple matter of willpower.
- Dismissing: “He’s just not trying hard enough.” It implies the individual is responsible for their symptoms.
- Minimizing: “It’s just a mood swing.” It strips away the complexity and gravity of one’s internal struggle.
While we should always offer ourselves compassion (caregiving is hard!), we must be mindful. Solutions to mental health challenges are rarely “straightforward.” By removing “just,” we acknowledge the true bravery it takes to navigate these conditions. Read the Full NAMI Blog by Betsey O’Brien.
Why Your Voice Makes a Difference
Stigma thrives in silence, but it is dismantled with intention. Over 59 million U.S. adults live with a mental illness, which is 1 in 5 of our neighbors, friends, and family members.
Here is why shifting your language matters:
- Labels Dehumanize: Using people-first language honors a person’s humanity first.
- Jokes Cut Deep: Casual comments can feel like confirmation of someone’s worst fears.
- Words Influence Action: Stigmatizing language can stop someone from seeking life-saving treatment or believing recovery is possible.
Change Starts With a Single Conversation
Real change doesn’t always require grand gestures. It starts when you check in on a friend, share your own journey with vulnerability, or simply choose a more compassionate word. Every conversation matters. Together, we are moving closer to a world where mental health is met with compassion, not silence.
Download the Words Matter PDF Resource Guide
This content is modified from an issue of our weekly newsletter, NAMI CCNS Mental Health Wire. Register for our mailing list to stay up to date on our mental health educational resources.