Embracing Hope and Knowledge on the Journey to Wellness
At the core of understanding mental illness is the belief in hope as the first step from illness to wellness. Recognizing that mental illness is a non-fault condition, we affirm that neither you nor your family are to blame. It’s about acknowledging that, with early treatment and active participation in the recovery process, many can reclaim vibrant roles in social settings, academics, and professional environments.
Hope lights the way to a future where mental wellness is an achievable destination for everyone.
Language Matters
Using appropriate language can help reduce stigma about mental illness.
Awareness comes with knowledge. We’ve all spoken words that may have caused harm, but learning from the past is crucial to making positive changes.
Don’t Say
She’s bipolar
Do Say
I’m concerned – her behavior lately seems out of character.
Don’t Say
He’s OCD.
Do Say
He has OCD.
Don’t Say
They’re an addict.
Do Say
They live in recovery.
Don’t Say
She has a history of drug abuse.
Do Say
She lives with a substance use disorder.
Don’t Say
He committed suicide.
Do Say
He lost his life to suicide.
Don’t Say
You’ve been really moody lately.
Do Say
I’m worried about you.
Don’t Say
Cheer up! Your life is awesome.
Do Say
I’m here if you want to talk.
Don’t Say
I think you should do X, Y, and Z.
Do Say
I haven’t heard you laugh in a while, is everything ok?
Don’t Say
It’s just teenage drama.
Do Say
I’m concerned – her behavior lately seems out of character.
Mental Health Explained
Anxiety Disorders
If feelings of intense worry or fear become overwhelming and persistent, affecting daily life, it might be an anxiety disorder.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD makes it hard to stay focused, organized, and still. People with ADHD might lose things often or find it hard to sit still or wait their turn.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder leads to severe mood changes, from very upbeat to very sad. These mood swings can affect energy and clarity of thought, with symptom-free periods in between.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD involves intense emotional ups and downs, problems in relationships, and sometimes impulsive actions and self-harm.
Depression
Depression is not just feeling sad. It’s experiencing weeks of heavy sadness, negative thoughts, and a lack of interest or pleasure in life, which can change sleep, energy, or eating habits.
Dissociative Disorders
These disorders, often related to past trauma, cause problems with awareness, memory, identity, and control over the body, severely disrupting everyday activities.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve serious changes in eating habits that can harm physical health or social life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is having constant, unwanted thoughts and performing certain routines over and over to try to control them.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can happen after a terrifying ordeal. It involves ongoing stress and fear, even when there is no immediate danger.
Psychosis
Psychosis affects how a person thinks and perceives the world, making it hard to understand what is real and what is not.
Schizoaffective Disorder
This condition combines schizophrenia symptoms, like hallucinations, with mood disorder symptoms, like depression or mania.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can cause confused thinking, emotional numbness, and difficulties in understanding reality, often through hallucinations or false beliefs.
