RESOURCES FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY

Impact of Person-First Language in the Medical Community. Using appropriate language in a treatment setting can positively affect the ways individuals view themselves and their ability to continue treatment. Inappropriate language can have the opposite effect by stigmatizing patients and depersonalizing someone who is attempting to seek wellness. Stigmatizing words can discourage, isolate, shame, and embarrass someone with a chronic condition. Entire groups of people become devalued and excluded from society when disorder-labeling language is used to describe socially unacceptable health conditions. People may decide not to seek the treatment they need because of the stigma and social or economic consequences resulting from the way they’ve been defined.



EVERYONE HAS A STORY | LIVED EXPERIENCES VOICES

Hear the voices of people who know only too well what stigma looks like—because they have faced it. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to ending stigma. We hope these voices enlighten you and help you consider different approaches and new solutions to ending stigma.

DOWNLOAD TOOLKITS FOR THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
 

WHAT IS STIGMA?
WHY LANGUAGE MATTERS
TALKING ABOUT ADDICTION
STIGMA IN YOUR WORKPLACE
CREATING AN ANTI STIGMA ACTION PLAN