Language Matters

As lawyers, law students, and judges, we learn early and often in our careers just how much language matters. Yet outside of the courtroom, the truth is that language matters just as much in recovery as it does in law.

Too often, we hear clinical and slang mental health terms thrown around casually. That person is ‘crazy’ or ‘nuts,’ or ‘that person is all over the place, its like they are 'schizophrenic,’’ or ‘with those mood swings they must be bipolar.’ When these are thrown around in non-clinical ways like this, it degrades what is an actual medical illness, stigmatizing it and making people less likely to seek help for treatable mental health conditions.

In a courtroom, we would all object to language that is overly prejudicial. But we all accept language about mental health conditions that is extremely prejudicial. Why?

Part of it is the stigma. Part of it is a lack of understanding and nuance around a lot of these issues. And I think a big part of it is that it would take a lot of work to correct such practices. But if we are to combat the stigma surrounding mental illness in the legal profession, we have to try.