Mental health disabilities

Using words
Don't say	Say
crazy insane lunatic psycho mental mental patient maniac neurotic psychotic unsound mind schizophrenic	a person with a mental illness a person with a mental disorder a person with a mood disorder (for example, a person with bipolar disorder) a person with a personality disorder (for example, a person with an antisocial personality disorder) a person with an anxiety disorder (for example, a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder) a person with schizophrenia

Mental health disabilities are not as visible as many other types of disabilities.

Some people with mental health disabilities may have:

• hallucinations (hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there)
• difficulty concentrating or remembering
• acute mood swings.

Other people may not show any signs. You won't know that a person has a mental health disability unless you are told.

Here are some examples of mental health disabilities:

• schizophrenia
• depression
• phobias
• bipolar, anxiety and mood disorders.

Tips on how to interact with people who have mental health disabilities

• Treat a person with a mental health disability with the same respect and consideration you have for everyone else.
• Be confident and reassuring. Listen carefully and work with the person to meet their needs.
• If someone appears to be in a crisis, ask them to tell you the best way to help.

How can you change the way you communicate with people with disabilities?

If you are interested in learning more about Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or how to make accessibility a natural part of your business through the application of Corporate Social Responsibility, please contact Sandra Broekhof @ 416-579-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit www.accessibilitycompliance.ca