title: Championing person-first language: a call to psychiatric mental health nurses.
abstract: At the heart of recovery-oriented psychiatric mental health care are the dignity and respect of each person and the ways in which helping professionals convey a person's uniqueness, strengths, abilities, and needs. "Person-first language" is a form of linguistic expression relying on words that reflect awareness, a sense of dignity, and positive attitudes about people with disabilities. As such, person-first language places emphasis on the person first rather than the disability (e.g., "person with schizophrenia" rather than "a schizophrenic"). This article champions the use of person-first language as a foundation for recovery-oriented practice and enhanced collaborative treatment environments that foster respect, human dignity, and hope.
authors.affiliation: basicwellness@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pease
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Barut
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Musker
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noll
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cogliser
authors.forename: Joan Kenerson
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D028723:Personhood; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012660:Semantics; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D014481:United States
keywords: disability language; inclusive language; person-first language; recovery-oriented practice; stigmatizing language