Let’s Talk About Mental Health Language | And Why It Matters

Growing up in the UK during the 1970s, the language commonly used to describe people of colour or different nationalities was, in hindsight, frankly awful. We even had sitcoms that thrived on jokes and language that, today, would make most of us wince. Goodness knows what it must have been like being on the receiving end of that. You wouldn’t have needed hindsight to know it was awful. We still have so much to do in this area. 

But this article isn’t about racism.

It’s about mental health.

Everyday, I hear phrases casually thrown around that cast mental health in a negative light. 

We’ve all heard them: 

• "She’s totally mental."

• "You’re driving me crazy!"

• "We’re being so schizophrenic about this."

• "Frankly, this is barking mad."

These expressions seem harmless enough, right? They’re said in jest, often without a second thought. But why does this matter?

Why it’s a Problem

Mental health has, thankfully, gained a stronger profile over recent years. We’re encouraged to talk more openly about our struggles, with campaigns like "It’s Good to Talk" highlighting the importance of not bottling things up. And while we’ve come a long way, there’s still work to be done.

The problem is that when we use mental health terms as insults, jokes or simply  in a negative light, it chips away at that progress. If someone hears their friends or colleagues casually throw around terms like "crazy" or "mental " in a negative context, it’s not hard to imagine they might feel uncomfortable speaking up about their own mental health concerns or living with someone who suffers. In fact, it could push them further into silence, reinforcing the very stigma we’re trying to break down.

What Can We Do?

I think the first step is raising our awareness. How often do we—or the people around us—use language that trivialises mental health? If we start listening for it, we might be surprised by how common it still is. And just like with the shift in language around race or nationality, we can adjust how we speak about mental health too. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but small changes can make a big difference.

Imagine a world where people feel safe to talk about their mental health without fear of being judged, mocked, or dismissed. That change starts with the words we use.

Let's move forward

Let’s be more mindful of the language we’re using, especially when it comes to mental health. By making these small adjustments, we can create a world where it’s easier to talk about and deal with mental health issues.

What’s your take - do you think our language around mental health has an impact on how we address it?