Why ‘Mental Illness’ Is a Lie—and What You Should Call It Instead

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “mental illness”? For many people, it’s words like “broken,” “unstable,” or “crazy.” These labels carry heavy weight, and they don’t tell the full story. The term “mental illness” may be doing more harm than good.

We often separate “mental” health from “physical” health. But this false divide creates a damaging message: that mental struggles are somehow less real or less worthy of care. Many people avoid getting help because they fear the shame that comes with labels. Some even begin to believe they are the problem, not the system around them.

Words shape how we see people. A study found that people showed more judgment toward those called “the mentally ill” compared to those described as “people with mental illness.” That slight shift in wording led to big changes in how much compassion and tolerance they felt.

So what if the problem isn’t the person, but the label? And what if there’s a better, more honest way to talk about mental suffering—one that respects both the mind and the person behind it?

Let’s take a closer look at why “mental illness” may be the wrong term—and what we should say instead.

The Problem with the Term “Mental Health”

The way we talk about “mental health” often makes it seem less important than physical health. We treat it like an extra part of health, something to worry about only when things get really bad. But this way of thinking sends the wrong message—it says the mind doesn’t matter as much as the body.

When we split health into “mental” and “physical,” we create an invisible ranking. We put physical health first and treat mental struggles as a side issue. This can stop people from taking care of their emotional and psychological well-being early, when help could make the biggest difference.

A psychologist explains that separating mental health makes it feel “other”—something unusual or optional. But everyone has a mind, just like everyone has a body. And both need care. By keeping the two apart, we fail to see the full picture of what health means.

The truth is, mental health is not a separate category. It is part of total health. If we keep treating it like an afterthought, people will keep suffering in silence. Isn’t it time we changed that?

Mental and Physical Health Are One System

Many people believe that mental and physical health are separate. But that idea is false. Our minds and bodies work together as one system. What affects one will often affect the other.

Here are some ways they are connected:

• Thoughts and feelings can change how our bodies work. Stress, for example, can raise blood pressure and weaken the immune system.
• Our behaviors—like sleeping, eating, and moving—shape our mental health. These habits also affect how our genes work, according to studies in epigenetics.
• Practicing mindfulness can change how our DNA responds to stress. It also improves heart and immune function.
• Loneliness can shorten a person’s life. Even beliefs about stress can change how long we live.
• Physical issues like inflammation and gut problems can trigger anxiety and depression.
• Poor sleep and blood sugar levels can lead to mood swings and trouble thinking clearly.

It makes no sense to split the brain from the body. They’re part of the same system. Health is health—no matter what part of you it touches.

Why “Mental Illness” Is Harmful

The term “mental illness” may sound clinical, but it often carries judgment. Many people feel ashamed when they hear it. It can make someone feel like they are broken or dangerous. This fear of being labeled stops people from getting the help they need.

Even people who work in mental health can feel uncomfortable with the term. Dr. Ashley Smith shares that, despite her training, she still feels uneasy when using “mental illness” because of the negative messages tied to it while growing up.

Stigma isn’t just about feelings—it has real effects. Even small changes in wording can lower tolerance. People showed more bias when they read/ compared to “people with mental illness.” That shows how powerful words can be.

Labels can also limit how people see themselves. If someone believes they are “mentally ill,” they might feel helpless or flawed. But in many cases, what we call “illness” is a natural response to stress, trauma, or pain. Calling it a sickness may add more weight to an already heavy burden.

It’s time to ask: Are we helping or hurting people with these labels? There may be a better way to name these struggles—one that brings healing instead of shame.

The Medical Model’s Misuse of Language

The medical model treats emotional struggles like physical diseases. It uses terms like “symptoms,” “brain disorders,” and “relapse” to describe people’s experiences. But this approach can be too narrow, and sometimes harmful.

In history, doctors used this model to gain control, not just to heal. In the 1800s, psychiatry leaders used labels to build power and set rules about who was “normal.” They called people “mad,” locked them away, and claimed science supported it. But even today, those same patterns show up in how we label people.

For example, the DSM—the manual doctors use to give diagnoses—doesn’t even use the term “mental illness.” It calls them “disorders.” That means “mental illness” isn’t an official diagnosis at all. Yet it’s used all the time in courts, schools, and hospitals to make serious decisions.

These labels also help certain industries. When problems are called “biologically based,” it opens the door for drug companies to sell more medications. It also keeps the focus on the individual, not the bigger problems in society.

Words like “patient,” “disease,” or “disorder” make it sound like something is wrong inside a person. But often, what we call illness is a reaction to hard situations, not a flaw in the brain. Should we treat sadness or trauma the same way we treat a broken bone?

Maybe it’s time to rethink the words we use—and the power those words give away.

Labeling Reduces People to Diagnoses

When we use terms like “the mentally ill,” we turn people into their diagnosis. This kind of language takes away their identity. Instead of seeing a full human being, we see a label.

According to studies, people respond more negatively when they hear “the mentally ill” compared to “people with mental illness.” Just changing the order of words made people feel less empathy. That shows how easily language can shape our thoughts.

Labels can also stick for life. Once someone is given a diagnosis, it may follow them everywhere—at work, in school, and even in court. A single word can affect how others treat them and how they see themselves.

Even counselors, who are trained to help, are not immune. The study showed that they, too, were less tolerant when they saw harsher labels. That means this problem runs deep, even in spaces meant to support healing.

We should ask ourselves: Do we want to define someone by a label, or by their story, their strengths, and their humanity? Words can build walls or open doors. It’s up to us to choose the right ones.

Mental Distress as a Natural Human Response

Many of the struggles we call “mental illness” may not be illnesses at all. They are often normal reactions to painful or overwhelming situations. Feeling anxious in a stressful world, or feeling sad after a loss, does not always mean something is wrong with you.

Dr. Ashley Smith compares this to how our bodies evolved. For example, our ancestors needed to store fat because food was hard to find. Today, that same trait can lead to obesity when food is everywhere. In the same way, our minds evolved for survival in a very different world. Now, constant stress, loneliness, and pressure can cause the brain to react in ways we call “disorders.”

Think about it: staying inside all day, being glued to screens, feeling disconnected from others, and hearing bad news nonstop—who wouldn’t feel anxious or depressed in those conditions?

Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” we should ask, “What happened to you?” When we pathologize natural responses, we increase shame and pressure. But when we understand the root cause, we open the door to healing.

Recognizing distress as a normal response can help us respond with care instead of judgment. And that shift alone can change everything.

Suggested Alternative Language

Instead of calling someone “mentally ill,” we can choose words that respect their full identity. These alternatives focus on the person, not just the diagnosis. They also reduce shame and create space for understanding.

Here are some examples of better terms to use:

• Person with lived experience
• Person with mental health challenges
• A person going through emotional distress
• Psychiatric survivor
• Mental health peer
• Neurodiverse individual
• Person in crisis
• A person who has used a mental health service

Each of these phrases puts the person first. They show that someone is more than their struggle. They also leave room for hope and change.

Using better language does not erase the seriousness of someone’s pain. But it helps remove judgment. It shows that we see the human being, not just the label.

Words matter. When we choose the right ones, we help create a world where people feel seen, respected, and safe enough to heal. Isn’t that what we all want?

Language Shapes Social Policy and Power

The words we use don’t just change how people feel—they also influence laws, policies, and rights. A psychiatric label can affect whether someone keeps a job, gets custody of their child, or has control over medical choices.

Once a person is diagnosed, that label can carry legal weight. It might be used in court to question their judgment or deny them opportunities. These decisions often rely on the belief that a “mental illness” means someone is unstable or dangerous. But those beliefs are shaped by language, not facts.

Even the tools used to define mental disorders, like the DSM, are created by small groups behind closed doors. As shown in the MindFreedom movement, people living with these labels rarely get a voice in how they are named or treated.

When we call someone “mentally ill,” we risk giving too much power to systems that may not always act in the person’s best interest. But when we change the language, we shift the power. We show that no one should be reduced to a label decided without their input.

Words aren’t just personal—they are political. They decide who gets heard, who gets helped, and who gets left out.

Sanism: The Unnamed Oppression

Most people have heard of racism, sexism, or ableism. But few have heard of sanism—a form of discrimination against people who think, feel, or act differently from what society calls “normal.”

Sanism runs deep because it targets the mind. Since humans often define themselves by thinking and reason, anyone seen as “mentally different” is treated as less than human. This can lead to fear, rejection, and unfair treatment, even when no harm has been done.

For example, being labeled “psychotic” can follow someone for life, even if the original diagnosis was wrong or temporary. That one word can affect how neighbors, employers, and even doctors treat a person. It can limit their freedom, their choices, and their dignity.

What makes sanism harder to fight is that it often hides behind medical or legal systems. It shows up in silence, shame, and lowered expectations. But naming it is the first step toward ending it.

If we can call out sanism, we can start to change how people with mental and emotional differences are treated. And we can move toward a society that values every mind, not just the ones that fit the mold.

Reclaiming and Redefining Madness

Some people are choosing to take back words like “mad” or “crazy.” These words have been used to insult, shame, or control—but now, they are being used with pride in certain spaces. Events like Mad Pride celebrate emotional diversity and challenge the idea that “normal” is the only way to be.

This doesn’t mean we should call others “crazy.” But for those who choose to reclaim these words, it can be an act of power. It’s a way of saying, “There’s nothing wrong with how I feel or think. I don’t need to be fixed to be accepted.”

Even the word “mad” has roots in change and movement. It reminds us that strong emotions, bold ideas, and deep pain are part of the human experience. Sometimes, what looks like “madness” is a sign that someone is waking up to the truth or fighting for justice.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said that the world needs the “creatively maladjusted.” He believed that not fitting into an unjust system was a strength, not a flaw.

Maybe we need less focus on being “normal”—and more courage to be fully human, in all our messy, beautiful differences.

Conclusion

The term “mental illness” is not just outdated—it’s harmful. It separates the mind from the body, adds shame, and limits how we see people. What if we stopped using labels that reduce people to their pain? What if we used words that reflect truth, respect, and care?

Mental health is part of overall health. The way we talk about it should match that truth. You don’t need to fit someone else’s idea of “normal” to be worthy of help or hope. Changing our words can be the first step toward changing lives.