Language Matters: You Are Not an Illness

A person should not be defined by an illness or condition.  Often in popular media or casual conversation, people speak about the subject of a news story or an acquaintance by saying, “he is bipolar”, “schizophrenic”, or “mentally ill.” No one says, “She is cancer,” “she is a heart condition,” or “she is lupus.” Aside from a few very select common physical illnesses, such as diabetes where people find community and comfort in sharing their diagnosis, we would never consider insulting a person by simply identifying them by the disease which they have endured or are managing.   When it comes to physical diseases, we recognize and use language that affords individuals the dignity of acknowledging that they are far more than any ailment or condition. Yet, when it comes to mental illness, media and society often derogatorily reduce a person to nothing more than the condition from which they suffer, dehumanizing the individual by saying a person IS a condition rather than HAS the condition. We need to realize that using this language stigmatizes people, increasing their anxiety about seeking treatment and about their interactions with family, friends, and colleagues. When Language Promotes Stigmatization There is a great deal of evidence that people suffering from mental illness expect to be discriminated against and stigmatized. Media often fuels fear of mental illness. Too often, when violence occurs and there is n...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: General Mental Health and Wellness Minding the Media Stigma Crisis Counseling destigmatization discrimination Labels neurodivergent Stereotypes Validation Source Type: blogs