Person-first language
Person-first language is:
a. when you say the persons name before any sentence
b. when you are identifying that the person is a whole outside of their experience with illness
c. talking in first person
d. when you address people by identifiers outside of their illness
b. when you identify that the person is a whole outside of their experience with illness
DO NOT emphasize limitations, DO emphasize:
abilities/strengths
What is Hope?
If you are experiencing psychiatric symptoms, there is hope that you can get well and stay well for long periods of time. You can achieve your goals.
When was the first ACT developed?
1972
Improper: George is a meth-head
Proper:
a. George is addicted to meth
b. George is someone who is dependent on meth usage
c. George is someone who experiences dependency of meth
d. George tends to use non-prescribed substances to help manage distress and cope with life
d. George tends to use non-prescribed substances to help manage distress and cope with life
DON’T use condescending, disapproving, patronising, tokenistic, intimidating or discriminating language
DO use language that conveys hope and optimism and supports and promotes a culture of....
recovery
What is personal responsibility?
You are the expert for yourself. It is up to you to take personal responsibility for your own wellness. When you take on this responsibility, you can achieve the highest levels of wellness, happiness and life satisfaction.
Where was the first ACT program developed?
Madison, Wisconsin
Proper person-first language we would say someone with schizophrenia is
a. someone with schizophrenia
b. someone who suffers from schizophrenia
c. someone with lived experience of schizophrenia
d. someone who is crazy
c. someone with lived experience of schizophrenia
DON’T portray successful people with mental health conditions as superhuman. This carries the assumption that it is rare for people with a mental health condition to achieve great things
What can we do instead?
DO use language that conveys hope and optimism and supports and promotes a culture of recovery
What is education?
Learn everything you can about yourself and your illness, so that you can know how to make the best decisions about your life.
What award did the first ACT program receive?
Gold Achievement Award in 1974 from the American Psychiatric Association
Why are these terms considered "outdated" or "offensive".
Crazy
Insane
Psycho
Manic
Nut Case
They are stigmatizing and reinforces negative stereotypes.
DON’T make assumptions about people based on a diagnosis or multiple diagnoses they have been given over the years
a.DO ask what has been helpful and unhelpful in the past
b.DO be mindful of how important individual identity is to everyone. Be particularly sensitive to a person’s fears of being considered to lack decision-making capacity
c. DO involve others providing care and coordination across services
b. DO be mindful of how important individual identity is to everyone. Be particularly sensitive to a person’s fears of being considered to lack decision-making capacity
What is self-advocacy?
You can become an effective advocate for yourself by becoming self-aware, believing in yourself, setting personal goals and working towards meeting them.
What two client populations were the main to be considered into ACT programs?
Schizophrenia and I/DD
What is the opposite of person first language that is often used in medical settings?
Identity first language
DON’T equate identity with a person’s diagnosis. Very often there is no need to mention a diagnosis at all.
What can you say instead?
DO say “a person diagnosed with…” This shifts the responsibility for the diagnosis to the person making it, leaving the individual the freedom to accept it or not
What is support?
This is an essential element on the road to recovery. Support can come from family, friends and health care professionals.
What are some current research considerations for ACT programs at this time?
An unanswered question is whether assertive community treatment can serve persons who have severe personality disorders.