Most of you have probably been admonished for saying something politically incorrect without feeling it’s a big deal. There are so many ways to be labeled politically incorrect that the growing list of what we should and shouldn’t say may seem overwhelming. Although mental illnesses and brain disorders have always been present in my life, I still make errors in what is viewed as the correct way to speak about such things. It is worth the effort to reform your speech so it is politically correct when you discuss mental health. For example, we talk these days of “consumers of mental health” or “mental health consumers” instead of “the mentally ill.” We also refer to schizophrenia as a brain disorder, not an “emotional problem” or a “mental illness brought on by childhood trauma.” The purpose of political correctness is not to bully you but to educate you on how to speak to avoid making someone else feel uncomfortable. I am still learning to be politically correct when talking about mental illnesses and brain disorders. We should all be open to continuing to learn as the politically correct approach evolves with time.
I found some helpful tips about improving how we speak about mental illnesses and brain disorders on the Health Partners website at https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/mental-illnesses-terms-to-use-terms-to-avoid/