Big Ideas Mental ill-health and the power of words
May 6, 2025
Sandy Jeffs, an author and mental health advocate living with schizophrenia, joins Fay Jackson, General Manager at Flourish Australia, and Michelle Blanchard, CEO of VANISH. They discuss the powerful impact of language on mental health stigma. Sandy shares personal narratives about the evolving terms that can either heal or harm. Fay highlights the importance of culturally sensitive language, while Michelle explores the significance of reclaiming labels. Together, they advocate for compassionate communication to foster understanding and reduce discrimination.
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Use What Works to Reduce Stigma
- Use language that reduces stigma and discrimination effectively, adapting to context and audience needs.
- Focus on strengths alongside challenges to combat multi-dimensional stigma and improve understanding.
Test Mental Health Messaging Rigorously
- Avoid over-simplistic messages like 'chemical imbalance' that reduce blame but may increase stigma about uncontrollability and dangerousness.
- Test language and messages rigorously to avoid unintended harm before widespread use.
Diagnosis Caused Life-Altering Discrimination
- Faye Jackson shares how her diagnosis led to discrimination, loss of rights, and her life being controlled by stigma.
- She rejects diagnosis as harmful but embraces reclaiming "madness" as a source of pride and identity.
