When you are speaking to someone who is diagnosed with a mental health illness or you are speaking about mental illness it is important to watch what you say and think before you speak to ensure that you are not stigmatizing and discriminating mental illness. The following are some examples that will help you be aware of what you are saying before you say it. 

 

INSTEAD OF THIS:

“It’s all in your head.”

“Just get over it!” or “You’ll get over it.”

“It’s just a phase.”

“Your crazy!”

“Get busy and distract yourself.”

“Do you want to get better?”

“Change your attitude.”

“Stop focusing on the bad stuff and just start living.”

“You have everything you need to get better.”

“Snap out of it!” or “You can snap out of it everyone feels like this at one point.”

“I know how you feel.”

“I’ve been there.”

“Why can’t you work?”

“You have the same mental illness as my___”

“I went through the same thing before.”

“Oh you’re depressed? I’ve been depressed so I can relate.”

“My mom yelled at me yesterday, shes so bipolar!”

“Eat something!”

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

 

SAY THIS:

“ I’m here for you. “

“Do you want to talk about it? “

“You matter.”

“You are important to me.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Do you want a hug?”

“I want to help you get through this.”

“You can do this!”

“I can’t understand what you are going through but I can offer my compassion.”

“I am sorry that you’re in so much pain. Please let me help.”