Have you thought about the meanings behind the words you use? What can happen when someone says “I’m feeling crazy” or “You’re being so OCD”? What may be the impact of using language that targets a specific group of people? Can words really influence how someone is feeling?

Why is it important to be careful with words?

It can enforce and/or create stigma

Our choice of vocabulary can create more stigma to those living with a mental illness, even if we don’t mean to be malicious. It can associate something negative with the mental illness instead of focusing on what is important–the individual themselves and their experiences. For example, when someone says, “That person committed suicide”, the word “committed” suggests a negative connotation to the situation, as if the individual who has passed away has “committed a crime” or done something bad. Using these words does not address the underlying experiences the person had gone through, like depression or anxiety. Instead, we could try to say that the person has “died by suicide”.

It can make someone feel like they are misunderstood

Often, we hear OCD being used as a term for being neat and tidy, as in, “Oh, I cleaned up my desk because the messiness was making me feel OCD”. This choice of words can make a person who actually IS living with OCD feel like their struggle with obsessions and compulsions is boiled down to being nothing more than needing to be tidy. In this example, instead of using OCD, a diagnosable mental illness, as an adjective for being meticulous and organized, someone can say “Oh, I cleaned up my desk because the clutter was getting to me”.

It can make people feel alienated/isolated

By using mental illnesses to describe everyday experiences, those actually living with a diagnosis can feel like they are unimportant, and it can have a tremendous impact on their self-esteem and confidence. If someone says “I’m feeling so bipolar today, one minute I’m happy and the other I’m angry”, then a person who actually has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder might not feel comfortable opening up about their struggles. The feeling of not being able to talk freely to others can be detrimental to someone who would benefit from opening up to others around them. Instead of saying they feel bipolar, one could say something like “My emotions are all over the place today”.

What can we do to help with this issue?

Mind what you say

Just being mindful of the words we use can help immensely. Avoid using the name of a mental illness to describe how you are feeling when you do not have said disorder. Instead, try using adjectives to describe your sentiments.

Learn about mental illnesses

They say that knowledge is power, and if you learn about different mental illnesses it might make you think twice about using certain words in conversations. It can also open your eyes to things you didn’t know, like the experiences and realities of those living with a mental illness.

Speak out if someone says something harmful

If someone uses language that enforces stigma or hurts someone, don’t be afraid to speak out. Be polite, but point out that the word they decided to use might harm certain people. The other person might not have even realized they were doing it—impact can be different from intention—and you can help them understand why what they said might be hurtful.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has created a useful reference guide that can help you better understand how you can change your word choices:

–Gabrielle Lesage

From Share&Care Winter 2025
Visit amiquebec.org/sources for references