The words we use in behavioral health settings aren’t just descriptive, they’re directional. Language can reinforce stigma, exclude individuals from care, or foster understanding and trust. Gabe Golomb’s recent article on respectful language in mental health and disability spaces highlights this issue with clarity and urgency. It’s a timely reminder that our systems and services must lead with empathy, including in how we speak.

The Problem with “Everyday” Language
Many phrases we hear daily: “That’s crazy,” “You’re acting bipolar,” or “Are you deaf or something?” - may seem harmless but carry damaging implications. They diminish individual dignity and imply that mental illness or disability is something to mock or belittle. When those phrases are used by care teams, first responders, or public institutions, the effect is amplified.

Why It Matters in Behavioral Health Delivery

At Cloud 9, we know that small shifts in communication can have a big impact, especially in crisis settings. While outcomes vary, we’ve seen how respectful, person-first engagement can support better rapport and help reduce friction in care coordination.

What Respectful Language Looks Like

• Person-first: Say “person with schizophrenia,” not “a schizophrenic.”
  
  
• Identity-affirming: Respect terms individuals use to describe themselves.
  
  
• Avoid slang and diagnostic shorthand: “They’re psychotic” becomes “They’re experiencing a mental health crisis.”
  
  
• Tone matters: Especially in first responder and crisis contexts, a calm, respectful tone can deescalate situations faster than force.
  
  

Practical Applications for Cloud 9 Partners

• CMHCs & FQHCs: Incorporate respectful language into EHR templates, staff onboarding, and care team scripting.
  
  
• Law Enforcement & First Responders: Use language protocols during dispatch and field response to reduce escalation and stigma.
  
  
• Managed Care Orgs (MCOs): Ensure member communication materials reflect inclusive, non-stigmatizing phrasing to support trust and engagement.
  
  
• Supervisors & Admins: Embed respectful language standards into quality improvement efforts and staff development programs that promote fairness, safety, and inclusion.

Conclusion
Behavioral health equity doesn’t begin with systems, it begins with people. And people respond to how they’re spoken to. Respectful language is a simple but powerful lever to reduce stigma, improve engagement, and strengthen care outcomes across the board.

Let’s start there.

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