By Madison McCann, Editor-in-chief
Recently, in a surge of racist remarks coming from the media and many other sources in response to claims from President-Elect Donald Trump, a new movement has formed, based on the belief that “Words Matter.” Though this movement is focused on the use of words attacking race, its argument also applies to the discussion of mental illness.
People often use words without thinking about what they mean. Though this is mostly unintentional, the use of mental disease descriptors as slang dehumanizes people with disabilities.
It needs to be recognized and eliminated.
First of all, when addressing someone who has a mental disorder, it is important to realize that people are people, regardless of any conditions they may have. For this reason, if you are talking about someone’s disability, instead of saying, for example, “an autistic kid” you would say “a kid with autism.”
“A person is not their disorder,” said speech language pathologist Elisabeth Baker. “They are a person, and then they have their disorder.”
This is known as “Person-first language,” and though it may seem at first like just another layer of political correctness, it actually matters.
“Often, with people who have disabilities, especially mental disabilities, people become defined by their diagnosis and not who they are as a person,” said Chief Sealth senior Leah Mclean. “Person-first language puts an emphasis on the individual instead of the disability.”
Society puts a negative connotation on mental illness and disorders. Names of illnesses and mental challenges are used as slang, often associated with being stupid rather than with an actual problem that people are struggling to overcome every day.
“It really hurts people when words like that are used out of context,” said Mclean. “OCD, anorexia, and bipolar are huge ones. I probably hear them at least once a day. I have OCD, and when people use my diagnosis as an expression it can be jarring and painful.”
When names of illnesses are used out of context, people are suddenly confronted with a double challenge. First, they’re already dealing with something that keeps them from being able to accomplish tasks as readily as someone without any mental challenges. But now, they also have to deal with people judging them for this disability, something that is beyond their control.
According to the Government of Western Australia Mental Health Commission, “Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma. Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart. When a person is labelled by their illness, they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to negative actions and discrimination.”
One of the ways everyone can reduce this judgement and possibly harassment is to be aware of the use of mental disorders out of context. When someone says something such as, “I’m so OCD right now,” it places a negative connotation on the disorder and makes it seem trivial, rather than a serious mental condition.
“When you use terms like that it just shows your ignorance,” said Special Education teacher Deborah Brown. “Your voice is like a rock in a stream. It has the ripple effect. The more you use it, the bigger impact it has.”
Words do matter.
Nothing is more obvious in the time that we are living in than that, so put in the extra effort to have a little sensitivity in your speech. Your voice carries more weight than you know.