From: "Toby Bartels" toby+wikipedia@math.ucr.edu
Alex756 wrote:
This organization is a good place to start understanding what "mental health service consumers" or just "mental health consumers" (the terms used by most individuals who are or should be under some kind of treatment) have to deal with on a daily basis: http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=Living_With
That's the term that's used by most of us now? I had no idea that the consumerification of society had proceeded to such a degree!
I know a lot of mental health professionals here in NYC. For many years the correct term has be "consumer". They consume services, these individuals are not necessarily "disabled" "debilitated" or "sick" any more than one with the flu needs some medical care.
The use of this term was started by "consumer groups" about fifteen years ago as many of the not-for-profit organizations in the area of mental health pushed for that name. It has become the norm. NAMI is an organization of such consumers, it was not geared to the MHP point of view, but to be sensitive to the point of view of those who receive services.
Since I use psychiatric counseling and prescriptions for medication, technically I must agree that I am a "mental health service consumer". I don't see how I could be a "mental health consumer", however.
It may seem confusing, but individuals who attempt to assimilate mental health are perhaps "mental health consumers". In the social services area they are known as "social services consumers". Those who dispense services are known as "service providers". (Interesting that the term is so similar in the internet field, what is that saying about all us "users" Are you a user?).
I did not make up this terminology, but I understand that those who need mental health services have been stigmatized with very negative and charged monikers that have caused them great pain and discrimination often based upon societal stereotypes that may be summed up in such words as "crazy" "mad" "mentally ill" or "mental case". It is felt that all these names are projecting very negative stereotypes and preventing individuals who might otherwise be treated like other human beings from being mistreated or ignored because of problems that they face that may be beyond their control. Even the term "client" tends to marginalize, in the opinion of these groups (though not all mental health professionals recognize that the only appropriate word for these people is "consumers".
Anyone who uses such terminology, in the opinion of these "consumer groups," continues these preconceived and prejudicial stereotypes by encouraging these negative symbols to circulate through the use of language that reflects a negative view of the situation these people find themselves in through no fault of their own.
It may not be a violation of any law or contrary to any principle of free speech to use such terminology, but the opinion of those consumers who suffer from the use of these terms perhaps should be kept in mind.. It is their opinion that when one uses these terms indescriminately the use of them causes groups of people to be further stigmatizated, alienated and marginalized from society.
Alex756