Jima was a bright, spirited 21-year-old who loved painting and volunteering at her church in Ibadan. One day, she overheard her classmates whisper, “That’s the bipolar girl.” Those words, though seemingly harmless, pierced through her like a knife. Jima was more than her diagnosis; she was an artist, a daughter, and a friend. Yet, at that moment, she felt reduced to just one aspect of her life: her mental health condition. This experience made her withdraw further, not because of her condition but because of the stigma the language around it carried. Language shapes how we perceive others and ourselves. Using person-first or person-centred language aims to put the individual before their diagnosis and condition. It involves saying words like “a person with schizophrenia” instead of “a schizophrenic man” or “a man with autism” rather than “an autistic man.” This subtle yet significant shift in speaking reflects respect for the individual’s humanity. It recognises that their diagnosis is...