VOA日常语法2024--Language and Mental Health

Language and Mental Health

　　In recent years, more and more people have been talking about mental health. The pandemic made many people feel isolated¹ or alone. The isolation² caused some people to struggle more with their mental health.

　　Different countries and cultures have different ideas about mental health. In the United States, conversations about mental health and mental illness are changing. Many well-known people have come forward and shared their mental health journeys through books and social media.

　　As ideas about mental health change, so does the language we use to talk about the issue.

　　In today's Everyday Grammar, we will talk about the language of mental health.

　　Let's start with the question, "What is mental health?"

　　What is mental health?

　　"Mental health" contains the adjective "mental" and the noun "health." Together, the words become a compound noun meaning the conditions around one's mental and emotional well-being³.

　　If someone has good mental health, they are in good emotional and mental condition.

　　Now let's look at "mental illness." Mental illness is a compound noun with the same adjective "mental," but with the noun "illness." If someone has a mental illness, they have a medical condition that affects their mind, personality or emotions.

　　The illness harms their mental functioning and can affect their thinking, feelings and behaviors. Examples of mental illnesses include depression and anxiety.

　　The word "disorder⁴" may also be used with some mental illnesses. For example, you may know someone who has an anxiety disorder.

　　Person-focused language

　　When we talk about someone's mental health, it is important to use the right words. We want to be respectful of the person and understanding of their situation. We can use language that is centered on the person rather than their mental health issues.

　　One way to do this is to say a person is "living with" their condition.

　　The structure for this is:

　　Subject + verb live + preposition with + noun form of illness.

　　Kurt lives with anxiety.

　　Another acceptable and simple way to describe Kurt would be to say "Kurt has anxiety."

　　The structure for that is: Subject + verb have + noun form of illness.

　　We can use this instead of using an adjective form of their mental health condition, as in "Kurt is an anxious person."

　　Avoid stereotypes⁵

　　It is also important to avoid certain words in some settings. For example, words like "psycho" and "crazy" may seem informal and acceptable to use, but they can cause harm. The word "psycho," when used informally, means an unstable⁶ and aggressive person.

　　For example: Her ex-boyfriend is such a psycho.

　　"Psycho" is related to "psychosis," a mental disorder in which a person has a disconnection from reality. Experts say using such words outside of a mental health discussion can lead to stigma⁷. Stigma is a set of negative beliefs that a culture has about something. Stigma can prevent people from seeking help with their own mental illnesses.

　　Final thoughts

　　In today's Everyday Grammar we talk about the best words and language to use when talking about mental health. We learned how to use person-centered language to talk about someone with a mental illness. And we learned that some words should be avoided to help end the stigma around mental illness.

　　Words in This Story

　　isolated – adj. separated from other persons or things; alone; solitary⁸

　　conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people

　　journey – n. an act or instance of traveling from one place to another

　　anxiety – n. an emotional state of being worried or very concerned

　　disorder – n. a disease or mental problem

　　stigma – n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something

1 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

2 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

3 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

4 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

5 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

7 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

8 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。