Words matter: rethinking our language around mental health

Trigger warning: mention of suicide

Language shapes how we understand mental health, and how safe people feel sharing their experiences. For some, the words used around mental health create a context that traps them in cycles of shame and self‑doubt.

Words are not neutral – they can be barriers to seeking help, motivators for discrimination and reinforcers of stigma. And in the UK, where 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year, compassionate dialogue is essential.

Why language matters

Some words are obviously discriminatory like “nutter” or “deranged” and shouldn’t ever be used. Others – “psychotic” or “neurotic” – have shifted in meaning over time and now carry outdated, stigmatising connotations. Just as terms like “Tweet” “Unfollow,” or “Selfie” would have been confusing twenty years ago, vocabulary we use in reference to mental health is constantly evolving too.

Suicide and the weight of wording

A term used often with the best intentions, is, “committed suicide” which comes from a time when suicide was considered both a crime and a sin. But suicide is neither. More thoughtful alternatives include “took their own life,” “ended their life,” or “completed suicide.”

Similarly, describing a suicide attempt as “unsuccessful” implies that success would mean death. Our language here is emotionally charged, and choosing words carefully can make a difference for those grieving and those who’ve survived. Language can either validate grief or deepen stigma. Small shifts make a big difference.

Identity beyond diagnosis

Language also shapes identity. Referring to someone only as, for example, a “schizophrenic” risks reducing them to a diagnosis. Instead, describing someone’s situation by saying something like, “they’re experiencing mental health problems” allows space for their other identities – parent, colleague, friend, etc – to remain visible. Person‑first language reminds us that mental health is just one part of someone’s story.

Even words like “suffer” need care. While the effects of mental health problems can cause immense emotional and psychological pain, we should avoid implying that a diagnosis is a lifelong sentence.

The role of media and culture

Many of us are guided in how we talk about mental health by the stigmatising language that persists in media, and even retail. These are some examples that shape public attitudes and can discourage people from seeking help:

• Tabloid headlines frequently using terms like “psycho”, “madman”, or “lunatic” to sensationalise crime stories.
• Sitcoms where characters casually describe themselves or others as “crazy” or “mental”, reinforcing stereotypes.
• Retail products such as novelty mugs, T‑shirts, or greeting cards with slogans like “Obsessive Coffee Drinker” or “completely mental”, trivialising serious conditions.
• Halloween costumes marketed as “asylum inmate” or “psycho ward patient” which perpetuate harmful associations between mental illness and violence.
• Political commentary, for example when MPs said that parliament was having a “collective nervous breakdown”, equating political disagreement with mental illness.

While harmful language still persists, there are signs of progress. More workplaces now offer “wellbeing days” to normalise support, and campaigns increasingly use person‑first language to highlight that mental health is just one part of someone’s identity. These shifts show how culture can evolve towards compassion and inclusion.

Key terms and what they mean

• Trauma-Informed
  Definition: An approach that recognises the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this awareness into practices, policies and interactions.

Why it matters: It shifts the focus from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what happened to you?”, reducing blame and fostering understanding.

• Neurodivergent
  Definition: A term describing people whose brain functions differ from what is considered “typical,” including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and more.
  

Why it matters: It reframes difference as diversity rather than deficit, promoting inclusion. Around 15% of the UK population is thought to be neurodivergent.

• Stigma
  Definition: Negative attitudes or discrimination directed at people because of their mental health condition.

Why it matters: Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to seeking support. A survey by Time to Change found that 9 in 10 people with mental health problems in England experience stigma or discrimination.

• Wellbeing
  Definition: A holistic sense of health that includes emotional, physical and social aspects – not just the absence of illness.
  

Why it matters: It reminds us that mental health is about more than just surviving. The ONS regularly measures wellbeing across the UK, showing stark differences by region and income.

• Intersectionality
  Definition: A framework recognising that people’s experiences are shaped by overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, class, sexuality).
  

Why it matters: It helps us understand why some groups face compounded barriers to care. For example, Black people in the UK are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act compared to white people.

Everyday expressions to rethink

Casual or careless expressions can trivialise serious conditions, reinforce stigma or reduce people to labels. Here are some things to keep in mind – with some examples of what to avoid and how to reframe:

Avoid reducing someone to a label

When we describe a person as their diagnosis, we erase their individuality.

• Instead of: “He’s schizophrenic.”
  Try: “He has a diagnosis of schizophrenia.”
• Instead of: “She’s bipolar.”
  Try: “She lives with bipolar disorder.”

Avoid trivialising clinical terms

Using medical language casually can misrepresent serious conditions.

• Instead of: “She’s OCD about cleaning.”
  Try: “She likes things organised.”
• Instead of: “I’m depressed” (when you mean sad).
  Try: “I’m feeling low today.”

Avoid stigmatising or sensational slang

Words can reinforce harmful stereotypes.

• Instead of: “He’s a mental patient.”
  Try: “He’s living with...”
• Instead of: “That’s insane!”
  Try: “That’s unbelievable!” or “That’s surprising!”

Avoid colloquialising treatment

Casual phrases can trivialise the complexity of treatment and conditions.

• Instead of: “happy pills” or “chill pills”

Try: “prescription medication” or “antidepressants.”

• · Instead of: “He’s seeing his shrink”

Try: “He’s seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist”

Avoid dismissing cries for help

Labels can ignore a person’s need for support.

• Instead of: “She’s attention-seeking.”
  Try: “She’s reaching out for support.”

Keep learning and listening

Language is not fixed. It evolves with culture, activism and lived experience. Our understanding of mental health evolves too; what feels respectful today may shift tomorrow. The most compassionate thing we can do is stay curious, listen to lived experience and be ready to adapt.

• Listen first: Let people define their own experiences.
• Stay humble: Accept correction without defensiveness.
• Be curious: Follow organisations like Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, who regularly share evolving guidance on language.

Words are powerful. They can hurt, but they can also heal. By choosing language with care, we create spaces where people feel seen, respected and supported. Don’t feel like you have to be perfect – everyone makes mistakes. Just be present, open and willing to learn.