Activity 2: Stigma and language The language we use when talking about mental health can contribute to a young person’s experience of stigma. The purpose of this activity is to discover acceptable language that can be used to discuss and describe mental ill health, and the negative phrases to avoid. Read the phrases below and put a tick next to the ones your group think are acceptable (neutral or positive) and a cross next to the ones your group think are unacceptable (judgemental or negative). Put a question mark next to any phrases you are unsure of to discuss as a whole group.
“A mental health problem” “Suffering from depression” “She is bipolar, so she is going to need time off school” “A person who self-harms” “They are a victim of trauma” “They are disturbed” “A current diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder” “They are accessing support”
“Completed suicide” “Taking happy pills” “Their relative committed suicide” “Experiencing depression”
Use the space below to make some notes to feed back to the whole group.
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