Interesting find--this came up on the top of the list from a simple Google search of the phrase "the mentally ill":
Quote:
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In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that participants showed less tolerance toward people who were referred to as "the mentally ill" when compared to those referred to as "people with mental illness."
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0126111942.htm
Ohio State University. "Why you should never use the term 'the mentally ill'." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 January 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160126111942.htm>.
Also might be worth checking out:
Darcy Haag Granello, Todd A. Gibbs. The Power of Language and Labels: “The Mentally Ill” Versus “People With Mental Illnesses”. Journal of Counseling & Development, 2016; 94 (1): 31 DOI: 10.1002/jcad.12059
The issue I raised wasn't necessarily "the mentally ill" vs. "those with mental illnesses". I don't think the word illness fits altogether. If I have endometrious, I'm not gynecologically ill. (Could you imagine if we went around referring to people with OBGYN conditions as "the gynecologically ill"! That would spur outrage.) If I have a hypothyroidism, I'm not classified as a member of "the endocrinoligically ill".
Surprised people support this, but to each his own. I personally don't think it's good for me to link my identity with being mentally ill and don't think it's ok for mental health workers (again, was referring to site, not the forum/members) to refer to people as "the mentally ill" or, especially, "the personality disordered" or "schizophrenics", so maybe I am not a good fit here. It is not the sole cause of stigma, but it certainly contributes. Labels assign concepts to words and denote characteristics of people--not exactly harmless.