Is it OK to Say Crazy?

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a nasty name, you know that words can, in fact, hurt. A lot. While it may be clear when you’re exchanging intentional expletives that your words are harmful, when it comes to talking about mental health, we often use hurtful language without even knowing it.  

Prompted by a desire to address damaging stereotypes and misinformation regarding mental illness, Andrew Szeto, director of the Campus Mental Health Strategy and assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, draws on more than a decade of research expertise in his upcoming workshop, Is it OK to Say Crazy? Stigma and Language Related to Mental Illnesses. 

Led by Szeto, Is it OK to Say Crazy? explores and defines the concept of stigma, explains the relationship between stigma and mental health, and offers strategies to reduce stigma by identifying harmful language. 

“One of the biggest takeaways from this workshop is understanding the concept of stigma. Although we typically have an idea of what stigma is, those definitions are often not reflective of reality,” Szeto explains. “Stigma is a concept that works at various levels. We see it in interpersonal encounters, but stigma also exists within our structures, organizations and cultures. 

“Popular culture, like the media and movies, often perpetuate mental health myths and stereotypes. When our systems are built in a way that discriminates against mental health and those with mental illnesses, reducing stigma can be challenging.” 

During the workshop, Szeto also plans to address stigmatizing language and offer specific examples to clarify what language is appropriate when it comes to mental health. “How you talk about specific illnesses or individuals with illnesses matters. There’s a difference between saying the weather is crazy and a person is crazy,” Szeto says.  

“Hearing stigmatizing language not only creates barriers to disclosing mental health concerns and seeking help, but can also create self-stigma where individuals internalize and start believing in the damaging perceptions and stereotypes from others. If we start to change our language, people will feel more comfortable and supported.”  

Hosted on Jan. 30, Szeto’s workshop aligns with Bell Let’s Talk Day. “Bell Let’s Talk creates an atmosphere where we can start conversations and address issues related to mental health. Is it OK to Say Crazy? brings that to the next level by addressing what role we can play in reducing stigma,” Szeto says.  

“This workshop also reinforces the Campus Mental Health Strategy, specifically the call for more anti-stigma efforts and the goal of creating a more supportive campus environment where individuals can seek the help they need.”  

With approximately one in four UCalgary students diagnosed or treated for mental health conditions annually, Szeto urges the campus community to be more informed about mental health. In addition to accessing on-campus resources, Szeto suggests the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Mental Health Association as reliable sources for further information.  

Register for Is it OK to Say Crazy? on Jan. 30 from 2 to 3 p.m. in Science A 245.  

This presentation is co-ordinated by the UFlourish team as part of Bell Let’s Talk Day and is supported by the Campus Mental Health Strategy. The University of Calgary’s Campus Mental Health Strategy is a bold commitment to the importance of mental health and well-being of our university family. Our vision is to be a community where we care for each other, learn and talk about mental health and well-being, receive support as needed, and individually and collectively realize our full potential. If you think you need help, please visit resources here. If you think someone you know needs help, find more information here.