I think this is important yet it is usually neglected, minimized, or underrated.

Referring to people as "the mentally ill" or "personality disordered" is offensive and promotes stigma. When there is a school shooting, public chatter about policies for the "mentally ill" ensue.

Calling someone with an anxiety disorder, for example, as one of "the mentally ill" implies that person is incompetent or has a flawed mental capacity. This promotes stigma, as evidenced by how people are viewed and treated by various entities and organization--work places, medical facilities, etc.

It's not even technically accurate to use this terminology. It's more accurate to label someone with dementia as "mentally ill" than it is for those with more other mental conditions. Instead, someone with dimentia is often referred to as having a neurological condition.

Someone with back pain isn't considered 'orthopaedically ill', as if their whole orthopedic system is defective. The same should hold for those with mental conditions. People who have mental health conditions do not have a defective brain. We create things, solve problems, offer compassion...we have careers and life accomplishments. Using this terminology divides the "mentally ill" from the "non-mentally ill". Yet, they are not even close to being mutually exclusive.

It's also time for mental health workers to stop labeling people as "personality disordered". This is extremely offensive and damaging to some. It's about time to change it to C-PTSD. Labeling people who grew up with hardships and trauma as "personality disordered" as if their very being is defective, is immoral or just plain wrong*. Just as it was offensive and damaging to label people who are gay as having a "mental illness". I really question the ethics within the mental health industry and its claims to promote well-being if it is promoting stigma and damaging labels, ideas, and concepts. And just because it is in the DSM, doesn't mean it's acceptable to use in a damaging manner. Not only that, but large groups with social power can work to change this.

If this site is truly purposed to help people with mental conditions, and is an influential source of education, reaching millions across the world, steps to end stigma should start here. What could be more helpful and supportive of the population for which it is designed to serve?

Thanks.

*I am very aware that a small percentage of those labeled with personality disorders do not report trauma (although I continually see people say they were loved and have a good childhood, yet describe parental abuse or neglect in the same thread). This thread is not to debate these concepts.