Key takeaways:
- “Mental health” and “mental illness/disorder” are the most accurate terms to use when talking about mental health and related concepts.
- Some expressions related to mental health and mental illness can be stigmatizing. Try to be aware of those and steer clear of using them.
- Increasing mental health literacy is a continuous process.
There are a lot of words, phrases, and expressions people use to describe mental health and illness, and it can be confusing! How can we parse out the differences between all of these terms? And how can we make sure we are not using language that contributes to stigma?1
Start with accurate wording
When we talk about asthma, arthritis, or other physical health conditions, we use their precise names. But when we talk about mental health, we tend to use euphemisms or the wrong words, because many of us have not had education on how to talk about it accurately and productively.2 (Though MHC is trying to change that!) There are so many terms related to mental health, and they can easily be conflated with each other or used inaccurately. You may have heard some of the following:
It’s most accurate to stick with the terms “mental health” and “mental illness/disorder.” To learn about these terms, check out MHC’s last blog post: What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?. It is important to note that language changes all the time, so we do our best to keep up with current best practices.
Avoid stigmatizing language
Sometimes we unintentionally use words or phrases that may be stigmatizing to people who have diagnoses of mental illnesses. Here are some examples of commonly used words and phrases that can be hurtful:
These phrases both pathologize normal behaviors and are dismissive to those who actually have mental illness. Although we may think that they are “just expressions,” they can be harmful and perpetuate stigmas attached to illnesses that are already often misunderstood.
What are we really trying to say when we misuse mental health terms? For example, instead of saying “I need everything organized, I’m so OCD!” it’s more accurate for us to say “I need everything organized, it makes things easier for me!”
We all make mistakes. If you have used terms incorrectly in the past, don’t worry! And in the future, if you catch yourself using an incorrect term or someone calls you out, just briefly apologize, correct yourself, and move on.3 Mental health literacy is about constantly learning and applying your new knowledge and skills over time.
The bottom line
It’s best to avoid using terms that refer to mental illnesses outside the context of discussing a formal diagnosis, and to model using this language in your day-to-day interactions. This will not only reduce stigma, but the higher level of precision will also help people discern when to be concerned about their and others’ mental health.
- Rose, D., Thornicroft, G., Pinfold, V., & Kassam, A. (2007). 250 labels used to stigmatise people with mental illness. BMC Health Serv Res, 7(97). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-7-97 ↩︎
- Habeb, M., Ciobanu, A.M., Al-Ani, M., & Mottershead, R. (2025). Stigma in Mental Health: The Status and Future Direction. Cureus, 17(6). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.85398 ↩︎
- Knight, Rebecca. (2020, 24 July). You’ve been called out for a microaggression. What do you do? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/07/youve-been-called-out-for-a-microaggression-what-do-you-do ↩︎