Why I am not a "mental health consumer".
"Mental health consumer" is now a widely-accepted term used to identify individuals living with mental illness. Though this language may be an improvement over the word "patient," it can still be limiting and disempowering. The author explains her concern regarding the word "consumer" and explores the advantages of using the term "psychiatric disability" to describe the experience of those who live with mental illness.
Hensley
Melissa A
MA
George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA. mahensle@wustl.edu
D001325:Autobiographies as Topic; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003142:Communication; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D003255:Consumer Organizations; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011639:Public Opinion; D012660:Semantics; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012933:Social Identification