Mental Illness
Hi!
How are you doing?
Okay? You don't have to.
"It's okay not to be okay"
Mental illness, also called mental health disorders or mental health conditions, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions that affect one's mood, thinking and behaviour. Such conditions may be occasional or chronic, causing phycological and/or behavioural disturbances with varying severities. They are nothing to be ashamed of: it is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes.
Self-diagnosing your mental illness may lead to trivialising the mental illness or magnifying it, both of which can be dangerous. We would like to mention that this website is created for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute a professional diagnosis. If you suspect you have any mental health condition, we would highly advise you to seek help from a qualified mental health professional.
Warning: Dangers of Self-Diagnosis
Reading information about mental health online, do you suddenly have the think, 'oh my god, that is exactly how I feel' ? Don't be! Stop the negativity!
Mental Illnesses ARE REAL!
Today, 1 in 5 children form the ages 13 to 18 live with a mental illness but yet only about 30% of the sufferers received proper treatment. 1 in 25 live with serious mental health problems that will substantially impact their reliance, life, emotion and wellbeing.
Treating Mental Illness with Respect
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that:
"All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights"
Persons with mental health problems shall not be treated differently in all means. We stand in against stigma and discrimination, promoting fair and justice for patients to live their lives to the fullest. We believe, together, WE CAN MAKE IT! YOU can change the world! Help us make a difference!
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When using diagnostic terms, put the person first, not the illness
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Don’t say “mentally disabled,” “mentally handicapped,” or “mentally ill.”
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Don’t use the terms “retarded” or “mentally retarded.”
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Don’t use insensitive terms (“crazy,” “insane,” “psycho,” “nuts,” “deranged") to describe someone displaying unusual or violent behaviours, or who may have a mental illness.
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Don’t say “addict,” “junkie,” “drunk,” or any of the other derogatory terms related to addiction or misuse of drugs and alcohol.
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Don’t say “brain-damaged” or “demented”, but "brain injuries"
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Don’t say “committed suicide,” which refers to the outdated notion that suicidalacts were crimes; say “died by suicide.”
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Don’t use terms that suggest pity, like “suffering from,” “victim of,” or “afflicted with,” when referring to someone’s illness or disability. Say “has a history of,” “is being treated for,” or “lives with.”
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Don’t use diagnostic or mental health terms to explain everyday individual idiosyncrasies or other behaviour common to many people, such as, “that’s my OCD” or “I’m so ADHD.”
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Respect each individual’s preference for how they wish to refer to their own mental health status
