Guide to Equity Terminology: Promoting Behavioral Health Equity through the Words We Use

• By: | The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• February 28th, 2024
• behavioral health, community, mental health, minority mental health month, person-centered language, social determinants of health
• 436    0

In the field of behavioral health, words are often our primary tools. We don’t have hammers and saws, thermometers and stethoscopes, or brushes and palettes. Words are powerful tools and using them with intention is central to our craft. “I’ll never forget, years ago, when I was asked to...

Countering Stigma Through Education and Outreach

• By: Rola Aamar, PhD Relias
• April 18th, 2023
• biogenetic explanations, biopsychosocial components, community outreach, education, language, mental health stigma, mental illness, patient education, person-centered language, Spring 2023 Issue, stigma, stigma reduction
• 2678    1

Stigma around mental illness remains an all-too-common occurrence, despite the increased availability of information about mental illnesses and the national discourse on prioritizing mental well-being. While we have made great strides in understanding mental illness, false perceptions of weakness,...