Handing over the language of psychiatry to be the play thing of media.

@Ziggy it sounds as though there is a lot of work to be done to bring awareness to Schizophrenia and to correct people's misconceptions. People like yourself doing the work to raise awareness deserve so much praise and respect.

@Former-Memberthank you your support but in terms of "...deserv(ing) so much praise and respect" thanks but no... it just is what it is hey.

IMHO, most people these days seem to have forgotten the very purpose of language - which is: to communicate. To transmit one or more ideas between two or more parties, as accurately and coherently as possible. The purpose of language is to get someone else to fully understand what you wish to express.

As such, I think it's become immensely counterproductive for us to now have all these factions within society talking about "owning" certain language.

Language, when used properly, is fully owned equally by all participants in the conversation - including those who are merely listening without ever speaking themselves. In order for us to communicate effectively, we both need to be in agreement of what a word means; we both need equal comprehension and mastery of that word for us to be be able to collectively use is as a tool for us to be able to communicate. This is true for every single word we choose to use in conversation.

To have master and true understanding of a word is to "own" it.

So if you have a situation where only a portion of the participants in a would-be conversation "own" the words, then that group cannot communicate, as only some of the people understand what is being said.

Sadly, in this day and age, far too many people seem to be speaking not for the sake of communicating, but merely to hear the sound of their own voices. They insist on using "their" language, rather then more coherant language; and they don't really seem to care if the people who hear them can really understand what they are saying. So confusion and frustration abound, everybody gets upset, there is no advancement in common understanding, and no progress ever gets made.

Quite often, if you want to make progress with people who don't understand you, you need to make the effort to talk to them in a way that they understand, not just stubbornly keep bombarding them with words you like the sound of.

I think that a lot of modern people need to have a good long reflection on the fact that language is meant to be a medium of communication. We need to stop obsessing over who owns what language, and start working together, as a society, to find language that we can all mutually agree on and understand.

Freedom of speech is a universal right (though sadly not enshrined in our own constitution), and as such, it's medium, language, is public property. It belongs equally and freely to all; not just the select few whom it might refer to.

I'm sorry but to respond that "..if you want to make progress with people who don't understand you, you need to make the effort to talk to them in a way that they understand, not just stubbornly keep bombarding them with words you like the sound of" is utterly offensive. I don't like the sound of some of the words in psychiatry (like 'schizophrenia' or 'psychosis') but it is the only "...coherent language" (in English) that speaks to the diagnosis and the experience (unless you've discovered another one that the rest of us are unawares to which holds no value because it halts discussion and leads to a jargon all of your own... meaning nothing to anyone else).

I'm attempting to point out that over the last 35 years I've personally witnessed the decline in appropriate usage of 'words' (or language) in the mental health sector to misuse in the various forms of media that hinders people correctly identifying with the diagnosis ('words' or language) to best represent their own personal needs with their mental health specialists and for their own personal needs in attaining health through proper communication (including their own personal research on the internet).

Hiding from a diagnosis because the 'label' offends serves no good purpose for anyone least of all the individual addressing their mental health issue early in their journey.

Thanks, your response but honestly, it's just an abstract rant that contributes nothing to the discussion I was attempting to initiate.

I do not know why you present the argument you do... especially when you have the title of a 'senior contributor'... No argument was sought nor warranted. It seems you are attempting to derail the discussion I was attempting to initiate with some need for a discussion on 'freedom of speech'. Unfortunately, 'freedom of speech' doesn't constitute freedom to sidetrack a topic into your own personal agenda unrelated to mental health in a mental health forum.
Perhaps your views are better suited to 'X', Meta or Facebook.

Back to the topic... Someone newly diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder or having just experienced their first episode of psychosis (etc) need to be able to explore what this means for them with medical professionals, with their family and through personal research and on the internet. This can only occur through the correct understanding of what this potentially 'new language' means and permitting the freedom to explore it unhindered by societal perceptions (carrying judgmental connotations) into this 'new (shared) language'. I say 'shared' because it is just that - the only shared language between professional psychiatry to the layman that can possibly convey what any diagnosis means and to then permit exploration of the connotations of the 'label' for best outcomes for all.
When first introduced to a diagnosis it would be great to be able to do a 'google search' for the mob who are the experts and who mostly deal directly with people who have the diagnosis you have just heard for the first time.

Organisations do not speak clearly to anyone hearing a diagnosis for the first time and hence form a potential barrier to initial informed exploration of these 'words' or diagnoses leading to potentially not getting correct information from what is probably the very best source. That being in conversation with someone who can speak directly to you about what this 'new word' may mean for you without fear or favour. The entities mentioned DO specialise in different diagnosis and / or parts of the journey... I'm merely trying to say that clearly stating in their 'nomenclature' what an entity addresses within the walls of their buildings is far from 'wrong' as it may serve to aid people exploring consequences of newly heard words that may form part of a diagnosis whether one agrees with the diagnosis (the words) or not. It would also aid to demystify the words in use and potentially reduce stigma through correct and honest use of these words.

We have already agreed on the very real common language in use in the mental health sector.

This language is not going to rapidly change though it does develop (but won't essentially change until the DSM -V is written).

The 'language' and 'words' I speak of ARE the ones in use... denying this serves no good purpose and benefits none. They are 'owned' by anyone who speaks English (or not) and being able to openly discuss this is healthy.

I find it disappointing that the unwarranted side-track argument about 'freedom of speech' presented by @chibam has been supported by 'senior contributors' and a 'community elder' in response to my post.

It seems that no one wishes to respond to the topic of clear use of the psychiatric language in the various organisation nomenclatures to bring these 'labels' into every day speak and aid in demystifying the sector across the board. (whilst also aiding in sourcing clear direct information when introduced to the psychiatric World for the first time).

Perhaps the politically correct needs of people in the mental health sector have begun to outweigh the correct use of the psychiatric terms.

This would be a sad predicament because it stops the individual potentially communicating properly with their supports and mental health specialists to best address their needs.

I totally understand why people would choose not to identify with a 'label' or diagnosis because of the associated stigma but I hope that this is not interfering with best health outcomes for said individuals.

Perhaps my open discussion of the diagnosis I carry is not as welcome as I believed... c'est la vie.

I will continue to just be me and humbly speak my truth.

hey @Ziggy just wanted to clarify some things - the title 'senior' contributor is dependent on how many posts one makes. it's in our community guidelines, which i'll post below:

and a community elder is someone who's graduated from being a community guide.

i absolutely hear where you're coming from and i think you've opened up a great discussion. i do however want to remind you that members may like posts for multiple reasons (some like it to show that they've read the post, some like it because they agree with the post, some like it to acknowledge the discussion even if they disagree, etc.) and to keep in line with our guidelines, we encourage members to interact however they feel comfortable.

totally hear your frustration in having the the discussion's moved into a different direction. please know that you're absolutely welcome to steer it back in the direction you want and share your view. i myself have been guilty of rambling off topic when i get so fixated on one part of the discussion, so please know that if/when this happens - it's not a reflection on you but perhaps us getting distracted from the main point.

we're here to listen and learn, and naturally, sometimes that means people may open up other perspectives too and disagree but that does not mean that your point is diminished.

personally, this is a topic that i've come across a few times, and each time i feel i've seen things from different lens. i am yet to form a full opinion on it, but i am thankful to everyone's contribution and sharing because it helps me in educating my opinion.

Thank you your response @rav3n I was somewhat of this understanding but appreciate it being clarified.

At this point it doesn't feel as though any wish to address what it was I was attempting to convey. I can accept that. Perhaps it's just not on the agenda in this arena.... though having worked alongside mental health professionals it is somewhat tragic to witness the lack of 'acceptance' of a diagnosis for best outcomes for individuals.

A diagnosis is not for life... recovery is real.

Using the right terms freely when we need to is just good sense to aid that recovery.... this is why I say 'names matter' in terms of the various supporting organisations in the MH sector.

It would aid to reduce stigma.

@Ziggy wrote:

A diagnosis is not for life... recovery is real.

@Ziggy recovery is very much real, and i do agree with you that names matter.

with what you mentioned around headspace for example, it's definitely a catchy name but also, they offer a wide range of services for those with and without diagnoses of mental health, so in some way it makes a lot of sense to me for them to have a broad name that's easy for youths to remember as well.

i never knew Wellways was formly Schizophrenia Fellowship, interesting!

do you reckon that because Wellways is known for supporting/treating those of other mental health illness too that the name changed to be more inclusive perhaps? i actually wonder why they changed it to 'wellways' specifically, will look into it.

@Ziggy I have seen an interesting conversation about this topic on Linked in. Due to Sane’s anonymity requirements I couldn’t post it.

Apparently a psychiatrist made poor generalisations in the media recently. About 30 professionals including Lived Experience people wrote to the RANZCP who seem to have dismissed their concerns.

Maybe between the Schizophrenia Fellowship and Wellways, they were NEAMI. I have been observing the field for a while and the changes of names and organisations has been dizzying.

@Former-Member @chibam @rav3n

sad to hear that the case was dismissed despite the efforts of some many people @Appleblossom

apparently Wellways was also called Mental Illness Foundation (according to google AI) at one point, so many re-brandings!