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What Is Stigma?

The dictionary defines a stigma as "a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person."

This can leave a person feeling shameful, embarrassed and it can have some seriously negative consequences over time. Stigmas can be related to everything from social issues, mental health, past personal experience, certain skills, trades, etc.

For mental health, stigma has been surrounding the field and the experiences of those experiencing mental illness for years and years. It is still incredibly common both in the industry of marketing and SEO as well as in every day life.

Research into stigmas has gone so far as to cite it as a number one contributing factor for poor mental health outcomes due to encouraging delayed treatment, poor treatment compliance, and more.

Stigma-Free Language

Stigma-free language, also often known as people first language is critical to changing the atmosphere of the behavioral health treatment industry as well as improving accessibility to care.

People first language is not meant to be politically correct, sensitive or polite. It isn't at its core about emotional distress, it is about treating people as people and reminding them that care/treatment is important.

How Are Stigmas Perpetuated?

Media depictions where the villain is often a character with a mental illness
Treating mental health issues as if they are something that can be overcome if they just "try harder" or "snap out of it"
Using phrases like "she's crazy" or "he's nuts" to describe other people or their behavior

So What Words Should We Use?

"Be mindful when it comes to your words. A string of some that don't mean much to you, may stick with someone else for a lifetime."

-Rachel Wolchin

Say This

Person with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Person in recovery/living in recovery
Person arrested for a drug violation/Person arrest on a drug related charge
Substance dependent/dependent on a substance
Medication is a tool in treatment, MAT is an evidence-based treatment
Maintaining recovery, substance-free
Substance Use Disorder or Addiction
Drug use, harmful use
Medications for addiction treatment

Not This

Addict, user, druggy/druggie, junkie, abuser, alcoholic
Ex-addict, past user, past abuser, former addict, reformed addict/alcoholic
Drug offender, convict, etc.
Hooked
Medication is a crutch, it substitutes one addiction for another
Staying clean, staying straight-edge
Drug problem, drug habit
Drug Abuse
Opioid replacement, methadone maintenance

That's Not All

As you can imagine, this list could go on and on, especially as we introduce more and more terms related to mental illness and behavioral health. The good news is that there are A LOT of other sources out there that we can use that are comprehensive lists with more words and suggested phrases.

A brief selection of these is available by clicking the buttons below.

Avoiding Stigmatizing Language