Glossary
This glossary provides clear and accurate definitions of key mental health terms to support youth workers in using appropriate, stigma-free language. It serves as a guide to enhance mental health literacy and ensure effective communication in youth work.
Mental health literacy
Mental health literacy – includes the ability to recognize specific disorders; knowing how to seek mental health information; knowledge of risk factors and causes, of self-treatments, and of professional help available; and attitudes that promote recognition and appropriate help-seeking”
Mental health
Mental health – consists of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
Signs
Signs – noticeable changes in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that may indicate they are struggling with their mental health and could benefit from support or professional help.
Symptoms
Symptoms – internal experiences reported by an individual—such as persistent sadness, anxiety, or confusion—that reflect potential disruptions in their emotional or psychological well-being.
Emotions
Emotions – conscious mental reactions (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feelings usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body.
Emotional well-being
Emotional well-being – an overall positive state of one’s emotions, life satisfaction, sense of meaning and purpose, and ability to pursue self-defined goals.
Psychological well-being
Psychological well-being – an individual’s overall mental functioning, including self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, autonomy, and the ability to manage thoughts and behaviors in ways that contribute to life satisfaction
Sociological well-being
Sociological well-being – quality of an individual’s relationships and interactions within their community and society. It includes a sense of belonging, social inclusion, positive interpersonal relationships, and the ability to contribute to and receive support from social networks.
Stigma around mental health
Stigma around mental health – negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions.
Mental distress
Mental distress – common and natural response to life stressors, such as, exam pressure, relationship conflicts, or financial struggles. It can cause temporary emotional or psychological discomfort (sadness, worry, frustration), but usually resolves with time or support.
Mental problem
Mental problem – arises when mental distress becomes more intense or persistent, starting to interfere with a person’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors, and may affect daily functioning. While it may not meet diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, it can increase the risk of developing one if unaddressed.
Mental disorder
Mental disorder – clinically diagnosable condition that significantly disrupts a person’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning. It typically meets specific diagnostic criteria and requires professional assessment and intervention.
Recognition
Recognition – recognizing when someone, including oneself, is experiencing persistent emotional, psychological, or behavioral difficulties that may require attention or professional support.
Prevention
Prevention – proactive measures taken to reduce the risk of developing mental health issues or to mitigate the impact of mental distress before it evolves into a more serious condition.
Management
Management – ongoing process of addressing and alleviating the symptoms of mental health issues through various strategies, interventions, and supports.
Stereotype
Stereotype – a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like, especially an idea that is wrong.
Resilience
Resilience – process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis – the process of determining the nature of a disease or disorder and distinguishing it from other possible conditions.
The biggest problem in language-appropriate approaches towards mental health literacy presents the fact that terminology related to certain, often severe conditions is misused and can lead to higher stigma or wrongful labeling. We have prepared a list of examples that can help you distinguish the basics of MHL terminology.
Mental health
What it is: a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how individuals think, feel, and act, and influences how they handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions.
What is not: Mental health is not the absence of mental illness. It is not just the ability to cope with everyday stress, nor is it limited to feeling “happy” all the time.
Why it’s often misused: People may confuse mental health with mental illness, using it to describe negative feelings or conditions without recognizing that mental health also includes well-being and balance.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “Taking care of my mental health means recognizing when I’m feeling stressed, talking to someone I trust about it, and using healthy coping strategies”
Incorrect: “I didn’t get enough sleep last night, and now I’m feeling off, so I think my mental health is bad today.”
Depression
What it is: a serious mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed.
What is not: just feeling sad or down from time to time, it is not simply a response to difficult situations like a breakup, losing a job, or experiencing stress.
Why it’s often misused: “depression” is often misused in casual conversation, where people may say they’re “feeling depressed” when they are simply having a bad day or are temporarily sad.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I’ve been feeling depressed for several weeks now. I’m struggling to get out of bed, have lost interest in activities I usually enjoy, and have trouble concentrating at work.”
Incorrect: “I feel so depressed because I broke up with my boyfriend/girlfriend.”
Anxiety
What it is: a condition characterized by excessive worry, fear, or nervousness about everyday situations. It can manifest physically and emotionally.
What is not: simply feeling nervous or worried before a big event, such as a job interview or public speaking.
Why it’s often misused: “I’m so anxious” about a minor event, like a minor inconvenience, is not the same as experiencing an anxiety disorder that disrupts daily life.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I have been feeling anxious for several months now, even when there’s no clear reason for it. I often feel restless, have trouble sleeping, and worry excessively about situations that don’t seem to pose a threat.”
Incorrect: “I’m feeling anxious because I just had an argument with my partner, and now I don’t know what to do.”
Trauma
What it is: emotional, psychological, or physical response to an event or series of events that deeply disturb or harm an individual.
What is not: a bad experience or a difficult time, it is not the same as experiencing temporary stress or disappointment.
Why it’s often misused: “trauma” is frequently misused to describe everyday stressful situations or challenging experiences that are temporary in nature.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I was traumatized after surviving a car accident. I keep reliving the moment of impact, and now I get uncomfortable every time I’m in a car.”
Incorrect: “I’m traumatized by such a bad haircut.”
Burnout
What it is: state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, typically resulting from overworking or feeling overwhelmed.
What is not: feeling tired after a busy day or experiencing occasional stress.
Why it’s often misused: people use “burnout” to describe moments of temporary exhaustion or when they feel overwhelmed but haven’t yet reached a state of chronic emotional depletion.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I’ve been working 60-hour weeks for months, and now I feel emotionally drained and because of that I can’t seem to find joy in my work anymore.”
Incorrect: “I’m burned out from studying for my final exams. I just need a weekend to recharge.”
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
What it is: mental health condition characterized by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions) that an individual feels driven to perform.
What is not: being “particular” or “neat” about how things are arranged or being “perfectionistic” in a casual way.
Why it’s often misused: the term is often misused by reducing it to a quirky preference rather than recognizing it as a serious, often disabling disorder.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I constantly have thoughts that something terrible is going to happen, like a fire breaking out in my house. Because of it, I feel like I have to check the stove repeatedly and thoughts like this take up hours of my day and are exhausting.”
Incorrect: “I don’t like things out of place, so I make sure my books are lined up perfectly on my shelf. I think that’s just me being OCD.”
Bipolar disorder
What it is: mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings that include extreme emotional highs and lows.
What is not: It is not the same as feeling “up and down” due to everyday life stressors.
Why it’s often misused: People often misuse the term “bipolar” to describe normal mood fluctuations, like feeling “moody” or “emotional.” The term is also used to describe people who occasionally have rapid shifts in their emotions or behavior, without the intensity and duration seen in true bipolar disorder.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: I experience periods of feeling incredibly energized, reckless, and overly confident, where I can’t stop talking or doing things and sometimes I don’t sleep for days. Then, I go through deep, depressive episodes where I can’t get out of bed, feel hopeless, and lose interest in things I usually enjoy.
Incorrect: “I had a huge argument with my friend yesterday, and now I am feeling really down and upset, but earlier today I was super energetic and talking a lot, so I think I’m probably bipolar.”
Dissociation
What it is: psychological experience where a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity
What is not: it is not simply “zoning out” or daydreaming.
Why it’s often misused: People may casually use it to explain moments of detachment, even though true dissociation involves significant, prolonged disconnection from reality and can cause distress or impairment.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I feel like I’m not really in my body, like I’m watching myself from the outside. I also sometimes lose chunks of time and can’t remember events or conversations.”
Incorrect: “I was so tired during the meeting today, I just dissociated and stopped paying attention. I couldn’t focus on what was going on around me and started thinking about something else, it’s probably a sign of a dissociation.”
Melancholia
What it is: an extreme depression characterized by tearful sadness and irrational fears.
What is not: feeling “down” or experiencing brief sadness, it is not the same as everyday feelings of sadness or disappointment.
Why it’s often misused: It is sometimes used interchangeably with “feeling down” or “feeling blue,” which diminishes the seriousness and clinical nature of the condition. Modern psychology now uses terms like major depressive disorder to describe similar symptoms.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I’ve been feeling deep sadness and hopelessness for weeks now. Nothing excites me anymore, I’ve lost interest in things I used to love, and I can’t seem to concentrate, I think I might be experiencing melancholia.”
Incorrect: “I have been feeling melancholic after failing my exam last week. It’s just the worst feeling, like I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Mania
What it is: mental health condition characterized by an elevated, expansive, or unusually irritable mood, often accompanied by symptoms such as increased energy, rapid speech, impulsive behavior, grandiosity, and a decreased need for sleep.
What is not: having a high-energy or “good” day and being overly excited or feeling more energinsed and being in a better mood than usual.
Why it’s often misused: People sometimes use “mania” to exaggerate normal high-energy states, without recognizing the intensity, duration, and negative consequences.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I’ve been feeling on top of the world lately, I’m hardly sleeping, and I’m accomplishing more than ever, but I’m also making impulsive decisions, like spending money I don’t have.”
Incorrect: “I felt manic last weekend after my team won the championship, I couldn’t stop talking and was super excited all day.”
Schizophrenia
What it is: mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem as though they have lost touch with reality, which can be distressing for them and for their family and friends
What is not: someone having a split personality or being violent, It is not about “mood swings” or “acting crazy.”
Why it’s often misused: “schizophrenia” is often misused in everyday language to describe people who exhibit erratic behavior or unusual thoughts, especially in media portrayals or casual conversation.
Example (correct vs incorrect)
Correct: “I’ve been hearing voices that aren’t there, and I sometimes think people are plotting against me.”
Incorrect: “I felt like my mind was all over the place yesterday, so I must be schizophrenic.”
