In mental health research we talk a lot about the importance of creating inclusive and safe environments where people can feel comfortable to share their thoughts and experiences. This is particularly important when mental health professionals are asking young people to participate in and co-design mental health research and interventions – professionals need to make sure they are demonstrating trustworthiness to young people that their views will be respected and affirmed. Ensuring that everyone in that space is on the same page when it comes to language and terminology is extremely important, as language – even inadvertently – can easily and quickly make people feel excluded.
Based on an activity at the TRIUMPH Fest 2022, this briefing paper discusses the importance of language and terminology when speaking about mental health.
