Labels like ‘schizo’ can hurt, so we came up with new clinical terms

Clinical Associate Professor Andrea Polari
Woman crouched and holding head

It is common to hear people use stigmatising, discriminatory and hurtful labels such as ‘psycho’, ‘schizo’ or ‘totally bipolar’. Others might minimise conditions by saying they too are ‘a bit OCD’ because they value structure and organisation.

This kind of everyday use of pseudo-clinical terms can be upsetting for young people who are struggling with these conditions. Worse still, it can stop them seeking care.