mental illness continued

Words can hurt
Words like "crazy," "cuckoo," "psycho," "wacko" and "nutso" are just a few examples of words that keep the stigma of mental illness alive. These words belittle and offend people with mental health problems. Many of us use them without intending any harm. Just as we wouldn't mock someone for having a physical illness like cancer or heart disease, it is cruel to make fun of someone with a mental illness.
Mental illness in the media
People with mental disorders are, many times, not described accurately or realistically in the media. Movies, television and books often present people with mental illnesses as dangerous or unstable. News stories sometimes highlight mental illness to create a sensation in a news report, even if the mental illness is not relevant to the story. Advertisers use words like "crazy" to convey that their prices are unrealistically low and to suggest the consumer can take advantage of them.
You can help change the way mental illness is talked about in the media by speaking up.
Recognizing the problem
Use the STOP criteria to recognize attitudes and actions that support the stigma of mental illness. It's easy. Just ask yourself if what you hear:

• Stereotypes people with mental illness (that is, assumes they are all alike rather than individuals)?
• Trivializes or belittles people with mental illness and / or the illness itself?
• Offends people with mental illness by insulting them?
• Patronizes people with mental illness by treating them as if they were not as good as other people?

If you see something in the media which does not pass the STOP criteria, speak up! Call or write to the writer or publisher of the newspaper, magazine or book; the radio, TV or movie producer; or the advertiser who used words which add to the misunderstanding of mental illness. Help them realize how their words affect people with mental illness.
Other things you can do
All of us can help the way people think about mental illness.
Start with yourself. Be careful about your own choice of words. Use accurate and sensitive words when talking about people with mental illness. Your positive attitude can affect everyone with whom you have contact.
Try to influence all the people in your life constructively. Whenever you hear people say things that show they do not really understand mental illness, use the opportunity to share with them some of the information that you have.
We have already changed the way we refer to women, people of colour and people with physical disabilities. Why stop there?
Do you want more information?
If you want to learn more about mental illness or how to combat the stigma surrounding it, contact your local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.


¹ David R Offord et al. (1996).  “One-Year Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorder in Ontarians 15 to 64 Years of Age,”Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 41 (9): 559-63