Are Mental Illness Diagnostic Labels a Good Idea?

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Are Mental Illness Diagnostic Labels a Good Idea?
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: Bipolar Disorder and Creativity: I'm No Van Gogh
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Are Mental Illness Diagnostic Labels a Good Idea?

When people seek professional help for mental health challenges, they might—if they meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental illness —receive a diagnosis such as major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc. Whether or not these terms are a good idea is debated among lay persons and professionals alike (Removing the Labels of Mental Illness).

To be sure, there are disadvantages to slapping people with mental illness diagnostic labels.

• The current stigma surrounding mental illness can lead to discrimination. This can affect employment, housing, relationships, and other life areas.
• The mental illness label can become an identity. Have you heard phrases like, “She’s a schizophrenic,” “He’s bipolar,” or “I’m so OCD?” When diagnostic labels become identities, it’s dangerous because it can keep people stuck in their illness.

That said, there are advantages to using diagnostic labels.

• They describe what’s happening. Having a term to explain mental illness symptoms can be encouraging. Knowing exactly what the symptoms mean can help people take effective action to treat them.
• They allow for efficient communication between everyone involved in someone’s care, including the person herself.
  Diagnostic mental illness labels will likely always be used. They have a function, just as do medical diagnostic terms such as cancer and diabetes. Use them for what they are—tools for communication and improvement. Just don’t let them become a term for who you are.

Related Information about Labels

• The Language That Defines Mental Illness
• Language Can Stigmatize People with Mental Illness
• You Are More Than Your Mental Illness Symptoms
• My Name is Chris and I’m a Person, Not a Mental Illness

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: How have mental illness diagnostic terms and labels (He’s bipolar.) affected you? Positive, negative, or a little of both? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, knowledge, and experiences on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• The Most Annoying Part of Living With Bipolar 2
• Coping with a Breakup Caused by Mental Health Stigma
• Getting the Most Out of Therapy for PTSD
• The Power of Psychiatric Medications Probably Saved My Life
• Mental Health Screenings in Schools Should Be More Inclusive
• Stop Yourself from Giving Up–This Is How I Did It
• Treat the Causes of Binge Eating Disorder for Lasting Recovery
• What Is a Dry Drunk in Addiction Recovery?
• Summer Blues, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder
• Anxiety and Panic Overstimulate the Brain–Mindfulness Helps
• Eating Trigger Foods in Eating Disorder Recovery
• Anyone Can Self-Harm, Not Just Those with Borderline
• How It Feels When People Dismiss Depression
• The Power of Habit: Patience, Perseverance, and Peace

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

Bipolar Disorder and Creativity: I'm No Van Gogh

Regardless of the evidence that proves or disproves the link between bipolar disorder and creativity, it is reasonable to suggest that people with bipolar disorder have a distinct way of thinking. The way I processed and distributed information was considered a real problem, especially when I was younger. In school, I could not thrive according to the standard curriculum. It was an issue that threatened my future and forced me to utilize my "substandard" mind.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. Dissociation Because of the Pain of Bipolar Disorder
2. How to Channel Anger Constructively
3. Mental Health Issues and Donald Trump

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"Behind my smile is a breaking heart, behind my laugh I´m falling apart, behind my eyes are tears at night, behind my body is a soul trying to fight."

Read more mental health quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook, stumbleupon, or google+) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, circle HealthyPlace on Google+, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Pinterest and share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

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