Have you ever called your friend psycho or mental and did u see how might have upset them, or if u might have not seen that right away you may have seen that they have started distancing themselves from you.
As someone who’s all about helping people through the mental health stuff, I’ve realized that the words we throw around can totally shape how we get each other. They’re like the mental street signs, guiding the way we think and talk about it.
So, let’s know about some phrases that aren’t the coolest and find better ones to swap them with:
First up, don’t go slapping labels on people like “schizophrenic.” It’s like calling someone “cancer” instead of saying they’ve got cancer. Just talk about them as a person, not their battle, okay?
Choose words that don’t make ‘them feel like crap. Ditch “suffering” and “crazy” – those are big mental health no-nos. Go for “living with” or “experiencing” – it’s way more laid-back and shows you get it.
Be mindful of your own luggage. We all have mental baggage, and sometimes we don’t realize we’re spreading not-so-great vibes. Watch out for that.
Learn and spread the love: Get informed and help others get the lowdown. Knowledge is like the VIP pass to being more empathetic and supportive.
Why words matter:
They can either make someone’s day brighter or throw shade on their parade. When we’re respectful and thoughtful with our words, it’s a win-win for everyone dealing with mental stuff:
It smashes the stigma: When we talk about it without the drama, people don’t feel so judged or out of place.
It gets everyone on the same page: Stick to the facts, and folks will actually understand what’s up.
It makes people feel like a boss: Using “people-first” language is like saying, “You’re a human being with feelings, not a walking, talking diagnosis.”
I’ve seen firsthand how much words can impact someone’s self-esteem and their journey. So, let’s all make a pinky promise to keep it real and help smash that stigma together!
Let’s do this thing and make the world a little kinder, one word at a time!
This post is a part of “International Day of Persons with Disability” blog hop hosted by Sakshi Varma – Tripleamommy. #IDPD2024Bloghop. Access all posts of this blog hop at https://tripleamommy.com/2024/12/02/beyond-barriers-amplifying-voices-for-inclusion-marking-idpd-2024/.
This is a very important aspect to think and follow. Words and overall language to mention or describe those with disabilities should be chosen with care.
Good call out. Sometimes words like “mental”, ” demented”, ” schizophrenic” are even used loosely in jest with an intent to ridicule. That not only is hurtful to the person it is used for but also depicts an insensitive environment to someone who might genuinely be going through issues and prevent them from opening up.
Educating ourselves I think is the first step to understanding why words matter and how you can say the same thing in a way that is not disrespectful.
Actions speak louder than words. But certain words hit hard. The topic you have chosen to write is rare. Mindlessly, we may say so many things that could have a negative impact on the people around us. Thanks for precisely highlighting those words.
Undoubtedly, words do matter. They can make or break a person, especially one who’s struggling with some limitations.
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True words can make or break and in today’s world how we communicate is very important. I would say it’s better to keep quiet rather than say something and hurt others.
Kudos to you Moni, for bringing an often overlooked part of the talk.We all talk about commencing a dialogue but most of us are not well versed with the language to be used to talk respectfully.Ypur points are great pointers and I personally will try to keep them in mind whenever I talk to a PWD or about disabilities.
Thank you for your post! It helps me be more mindful of the language I use to address me first!
A great reminder about the power of words! Choosing a kinder, people-first language can make a huge difference in breaking the stigma and supporting others. Let’s commit to being more thoughtful!
Definitely, words once spoken can never be taken back. Learning the art of conversation is important, and more so when dealing with sensitive subjects. Like you said, focus on the person and not the battle.
I must say, we have come a long way talking about it and not feeling all taboo about it, YET, we must admit, we still are very far from achieving what is needed. Learning daily, having an open mind, and sharing with others is one way of making this happen. This blog hop is a very great example of how we could do that! Kudos to my fellow writers who made an effort once again this year to participate on this.
Language or words shapes perceptions. And the way we treat disability, or the stigma around disability stems from the societal perceptions of dependency, inability, helplessness that are associated with a person with disability. That’s why a lot of inclusion advocates, including me, urge people to use person first narrative.
Very apt and topical subject. Living in a society that is mindless about the inner sadness a word can inflect is grief for the one who has to bear it and those who suffer it silently unbearable. one lesson we must learn is to vent our feeling and express the displeasure at their actions. never fear for some time harshness works better than mere words. so if words matter use it powerfully.
This post is such an important reminder of how much our words matter, especially when it comes to mental health. I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of using terms like “crazy” or “psycho” casually without fully realizing the weight they carry. Reading this made me reflect on how those words might have hurt someone, even unintentionally.
I really appreciate the emphasis on people-first language—it’s such a simple but powerful way to show respect and empathy. Phrases like “living with” or “experiencing” genuinely feel so much more human and understanding. It’s a small shift, but it makes a huge difference.
As you Rightly said words can either make it a bright day for someone or ruin their day. Thank you for this post that helps in how we should understand the importance of words to use
This really hit home. It’s true how casually we use words without thinking about their impact. Changing our language is such a simple but powerful step toward being more understanding and supportive. Thanks for this reminder to choose words that uplift and show respect – we really can make the world kinder, one conversation at a time.
Correct Monideepa, it is very important that we use respectful language as well as person first language. In my own organisation as well, we have developed inclusive communication modules which help staff being more mindful of their language.
However, one word of caution – language is just the starting point. Unless, our perspective doesn;t change any word can become derogatory as time passes. Spastic for instance just refers to the spasticity in one’s muscles – but slowly became derogatory. mental retardation is a mdecial term but retard is derogatory – so unless people’s views change – today’s respectful words can become tomorrow’s disrespectful words too.
This is soooo important. How we speak matters a lot. And that I feel is the first step. We have to take time to learn tonality,Simple changes like ‘living with’ instead of ‘suffering from’ can really make a difference in how someone feels.
You’ve highlighted a very important yet often overlooked point—our words truly matter and play a significant role in shaping others.
This is such an important reminder. Though we’ve been taught be kind, we often fall behind in our words, leave alone action. Words do hold power and they can make or break us. Well-written and I couldn’t agree more to it!