For this week’s Thinkbox, we’re thinking about language and the power it holds. Terms such as ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ convey a wide array of different meanings and messages. Some feel that the term ‘mental health’ is an unhelpful one which is more associated with mental illness than mental health. It has been suggested that the term ‘emotional health’ is more appropriate.
It has also been argued that diagnostic terms such as ‘person with schizophrenia’ are stigmatising as they define a person in exclusively in terms of an illness or condition. Others feel that these terms are useful as they help describe their experience. Clearly, there are lots of different perspectives on the language we use. What are your thoughts on the subject? Leave us a comment below in the comment box.
