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Inclusive Language for Mental Health

Posted on Oct. 6, 2021  /  Diversity & Inclusion  /  Subscribe 1

By: Shayla O’Keeffe, PRSA Tampa Bay member

Mental health has been a popular headline for the last year with heightened awareness from the combined social, political and economic events of the last year and a half. It’s important that public relations professionals use language that supports an inclusive space for those who may be experience mental health disorders. With World Mental Health Day on October 10, now is the time to build extra awareness around this important topic.

One in five U.S. adults are impacted by mental illness according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Those are the reported numbers, pre-pandemic, though. That makes you wonder how many people don’t identify as having a mental health condition or perhaps don’t know they have one. That’s why, we as communications and public relations professionals need to build an environment that is mental health inclusive.

From website copy to media content or employee communications, it’s important to build a psychologically safe space for others. It might seem overwhelming and worrying to say something that might trigger a disorder. However, here are a few quick tips that can help if you’re unsure:

Always use “person-first” language

• This means saying things like “a person with depression” or “a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder” instead of saying “a depressed person” or “a bipolar,” respectively.
  
  

Normalize the topic

• If you’re writing copy about the topic directly, don’t be afraid to say mental health illness or mental health disorder. That’s what it is – an illness affecting an organ (the brain). Approaching the topic with hesitancy or avoidance will only fuel the stigma.

Avoid slang or colloquialisms

• Stay away from jokes or phrases like:
  • “I’m crazy!”
  • “What a psycho.”
  • “The weather is being so bipolar.” 
• These things can undercut help-seeking behavior and make mental health a joke rather than provide it the seriousness it deserves. 

Having been through the Adult Mental Health First Aid U.S. certification process recently, I learned a lot around mental health terminology. Understanding how to build a mentally safe space for others can positively impact everything from daily social interactions to recruitment and retention to consumer-centric content.

Chances are you know someone with a mental health condition. Together, we can help end the stigma and build a more inclusive place for all. 

If you or a loved one is in need, there are free resources available: Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI, or if you’re in a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741. If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

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