How to Reduce Stigmatizing Language in Mental Health

  Many of the expressions and phrases we use when talking about mental health can cause discomfort. In fact, when we use words that gravitate around the stigma surrounding this subject, it can produce a disastrous effect. For example, without even knowing it, you might be encouraging an individual not to ask for help when they really need it. Stigma-based language (for example, “they’re crazy” or “they’re depressed”) has a clear impact on diminishing the sufferer’s quality of life. It can be defined as ‘the attitude, belief and negative judgment toward individuals with distinctive health characteristics’. Indeed, words have practically…