Mental Health Labels: Empowering or Harmful?

I would like to preface this piece by saying that, although I come from the Public Health arena, I am not an expert on mental health, nor do I have any clinical training. What I can offer is lived experience and a wider understanding of the healthcare system in the UK, particularly mental health services. So, in this article, I will put aside my professional expertise and speak as a mental health service user in the UK.

The Need to Change How We Talk About Mental Health

Mental health is a topic that remains widely misunderstood, even as conversations about it become more common. Terms like 'mental illness', 'mental health disorder', 'mental health condition', or 'mental health challenge' are used interchangeably, often depending on the professional’s perspective or societal trends. This inconsistency, while seemingly small, can create confusion and affect how individuals experience their diagnoses (if they received one) and interact with the mental health system. It can also shape the responses people receive when they share their mental health experiences — responses that, in my experience, often miss the mark.

I have encountered this disconnect repeatedly when I share that I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Reactions often include comments like, “I’m so sorry this is what you were diagnosed with,” or, “Wow, you’re so brave for talking about this.” While I understand that these responses may be well-meaning, they reflect discomfort or pity, emotions that do not align with how I feel or talk about my diagnosis.

Why Language and Labels Matter

One of the most important aspects of navigating mental health is the language we use to describe it. Terms like 'disorder' or 'challenge' carry different connotations, and their appropriateness often depends on the individual’s experience. In my case, I prefer clinical terms such as 'disorder' because my symptoms spanned over a decade, it was not a short-term issue. However, I dislike the term 'illness' because it ties into outdated ideas of sickness and normalcy, which I find unhelpful in the context of mental health. There is much debate about this in the medical field even, and that alone can be an article in itself, so I will not explore it here, but the reason I have a problem with the term is because of popular ideas of what ‘sickness’ is.

This inconsistency becomes even more challenging when people encounter official terminology. For instance, the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) uses the term 'disorder', while some professionals or organisations avoid it altogether. For someone trying to understand their experiences and navigate the system, these mixed messages can make an already difficult journey even harder. Stigma does not just come from society; it often starts internally. Finding language that feels validating rather than alienating is an essential part of the process.

The Problem with Euphemising Mental Health

When it comes to mental health, euphemising or softening the reality of someone’s diagnosis can sometimes do more harm than good. For example, when I share my diagnosis, I have been told things like, “There’s no such thing as a disorder; it’s just a challenge to address.” While this might seem supportive, it diminishes the clarity and validation I have gained from having a diagnosis.

Diagnoses, or 'labels', can be crucial for individuals like me. They provide a framework for understanding symptoms, accessing resources, and managing health. When I tell someone I have hypothyroidism, no one questions the validity of the condition or calls me “brave” for discussing it. Mental health should be treated no differently.

My Personal Experience: The Value of a Diagnosis

In 2018, I was diagnosed with BPD after experiencing symptoms since I was 10 or 11. For most of my life, I struggled with intense relationships, emotional instability, and obsessive thoughts that often lasted for months. When I finally saw a psychiatrist, I was praying for a diagnosis —not because I wanted a label, but because I wanted to understand what was happening to me.

Receiving that diagnosis was a turning point. It allowed me to shed the shame I had carried for so long and to make sense of behaviours and emotions that I had once seen as flaws. It empowered me to research and manage my symptoms, and it gave me the confidence to share my experience with others.

However, I recognise that my experience is not universal. For many, receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming or even stigmatising. That is why, in my opinion, it is so important to let individuals define their own relationship with their diagnosis, rather than projecting discomfort or pity onto them.

The Broader Implications

The challenges I have described are not unique to me. Across the UK and beyond, navigating the mental health system involves jumping through hoops — not just to access care but also to understand and accept one’s experiences. The terms we use, the attitudes we project, and the stigma that still surrounds mental health all contribute to these hurdles.

Even the terminology used to describe individuals accessing mental health services — clients, patients, or service users — can carry implications. While 'patient' might feel validating to some, others may find it alienating or reductive. Again, context and sensitivity are key.

Rethinking Our Approach

When someone chooses to speak openly about their mental health, it is important to meet them where they are. For me, my diagnosis was a crucial step in understanding and managing my mental health. It gave me clarity, tools, and a way forward. For others, the experience might look very different. What is important is that we respect each individual’s journey and avoid imposing our own discomfort or assumptions on their narrative.

Mental health is not a one-size-fits-all experience. By acknowledging the complexity of language, attitudes, and lived experiences, we can move beyond stigma and create spaces where individuals feel empowered to share their stories on their own terms.