Words Do Matter

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 just one part of their life, helping to paint a fuller picture of the person beyond their mental health challenges.

When we say, “The man is autistic,” the label becomes the defining feature of his identity. Subconsciously, we may begin to interpret every aspect of his life through that lens, disregarding his other qualities, roles, achievements, and personhood. Saying “Jima is bipolar” implies that her entire identity revolves around her condition. However, when we say, “The man has autism,” or “Jima has bipolar disorder”, we acknowledge that the diagnosis is merely one part of a multifaceted individual. While the condition is part of their life, it does not define them.  This distinction is small yet profound.

Why Person-Centred Language Matters

• Preserving Dignity and Humanity: Mental health conditions do not define individuals; they are just one part of their experiences. Using person-centred language ensures that people retain their dignity and humanity in conversations. It reminds us that they are more than their diagnosis.

• Challenging Stereotypes: Labels often carry harmful stereotypes. When someone is referred to as “a schizophrenic” or “an addict,” it dehumanises them, reducing their identity to their condition. This action fuels prejudice and discrimination, leading to mistreatment and social exclusion. For instance, individuals with schizophrenia are often wrongly assumed to be violent, even though the vast majority are not. Such stereotypes harm their access to employment, housing, and even compassionate healthcare.

• Encouraging Empathy and Reducing Harm: When we use person-centred language, we foster empathy. We begin to see the individual behind the condition, recognising their struggles, strengths, and potential. Dehumanising language, on the other hand, can lead to harmful behaviour, such as neglect, abuse, or unjust treatment of people with mental health conditions.

Language can perpetuate stigma, even unintentionally. Common phrases like “he’s crazy,” “she’s mad,” or “an addict” are used casually, perpetuating fear and discrimination and reinforcing negative stereotypes. They trivialise the complexity of mental health conditions and isolate those affected. They create barriers to seeking help and strengthen the shame many feel about their conditions. Let us use substance use disorders as an example. Calling someone “an addict” reduces their identity to their struggles with substances. This term can damage their self-esteem, discourage recovery, and isolate them from support networks. Substance use disorder is a complex condition that affects the brain, often rooted in genetics, trauma, or environmental factors. Recognising it as a disorder rather than a moral failing shifts the narrative towards compassion and evidence-based intervention.

Recommended Things to Say

• Instead of saying: "She is schizophrenic."
  Say: "She has schizophrenia."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He's mentally ill."
  Say: "He has a mental health condition."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "They are bipolar."
  Say: "They have bipolar disorder."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He is depressed."
  Say: "He is experiencing depression."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She's a lunatic/crazy."
  Say: "She has a mental health challenge."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He's an addict."
  Say: "He has a substance use disorder."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She's a drug abuser."
  Say: "She uses substances problematically."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He's a drunkard."
  Say: "He has an alcohol use disorder."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He committed suicide."
  Say: "He died by suicide."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She is suicidal."
  Say: "She is experiencing suicidal thoughts."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "Failed suicide attempt."
  Say: "Survived a suicide attempt."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He is autistic."
  Say: "He has autism."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She's ADHD."
  Say: "She has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He's slow."
  Say: "He has an intellectual disability."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She's learning disabled."
  Say: "She has a learning difficulty."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "My dementia patient."
  Say: "My patient with dementia."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He's epileptic."
  Say: "He has epilepsy."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She’s diabetic."
  Say: "She has diabetes."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He’s handicapped."
  Say: "He has a disability."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She’s wheelchair-bound."
  Say: "She uses a wheelchair."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He’s deaf and dumb."
  Say: "He is deaf and communicates using sign language."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She’s a victim of paralysis."
  Say: "She has paralysis."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He’s a psychopath."
  Say: "He has a personality disorder."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She’s manipulative because of her borderline personality disorder."
  Say: "She has borderline personality disorder, which may influence her behaviour."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "He’s a problem child."
  Say: "He is a child facing behavioural challenges."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "She’s a cancer victim."
  Say: "She is living with cancer."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "Former addict."
  Say: "Person in recovery."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "Ex-drug user."
  Say: "Person who previously used substances."
  
  

• Instead of saying: "Clean."
  Say: "In recovery or substance-free."
  
  

What to Do

• Learn about mental health conditions and the preferred terminology. 

• Share this knowledge within your community to promote awareness and understanding. 

• Be conscious of the words you use and their impact. Replace stigmatising terms with respectful alternatives. 

• Set an example using person-centred language in conversations. 

• Gently correct others when they use harmful terms, offering explanations to foster understanding.

• Promote person-centred language in workplaces, schools, and healthcare settings. Advocacy can help shift societal norms and reduce stigma.

Language is a powerful tool. It can marginalise or empower, stigmatise or humanise. By choosing person-centred language, we take a small yet significant step toward creating a more inclusive, compassionate society.

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