We’ve all said it, “crazy.” Lately there’s been a lot of conversation about what’s wrong with using the word “crazy” (or “nuts or “insane.”) It is an unfortunate truth that a lot of people use the terms “crazy” and “mentally ill” as if they were synonymous. They’re not. Mental illness is a blanket term that covers a wide array of mental conditions. “Crazy” is a loaded term that is commonly used to demean someone’s decision-making or mental state. The term “crazy” is problematic for a lot of people and for a lot of different reasons.
Mental Illness and the Word “Crazy”
When we call mentally ill people “crazy,” we marginalize a community that already struggles on the fringe. Mental illness isn’t widely understood by most people. Using terms like “crazy” only furthers the divide. People with mental illness did not choose to have these conditions. Many report feeling harshly judged by the rest of the world and extremely isolated. Calling someone with a mental illness “crazy” makes it seem like a character flaw, rather than an illness. With the right amount of support and treatment, a lot of people with mental illness manage their symptoms like any chronic condition. It’s unfortunately also true that those in our community who suffer from mental illness are more likely to think about and attempt suicide. When we label someone with a mental illness as “crazy” we create an additional burden for them to overcome in seeking the treatment that they’re more likely to need.
“Crazy” is Part of the Stigma Around Mental Health
The term “crazy” also hurts people without mental illness. There is a pervasive idea in our society that if you can’t cope with everything life throws your way, than you are mentally weak or deficient and are therefore “crazy.” If you aren’t good at dealing with mental stress, people may be quick to say, “That guy’s a little crazy.” If that person seeks therapy, now our suspicions are confirmed. “I told you that guy was crazy.”
The term “crazy” contributes to the stigma that surrounds mental health in general. No one wants to be called “crazy,” so it becomes uncomfortable to seek help. This is true for those with or without a mental illness. (I’d advocate that something doesn’t have to be wrong to start counseling, but that’s perhaps a topic for a different blog.) However, if we’re serious about preventing suicide then we have to examine the origins of these stigmas. We as a society have to think about the small and large things that we say or do that feed into creating obstacles for getting help.
Most people who have lost someone to suicide would give anything to go back and insist that their loved one seek help. We can help prevent future suicides by talking about mental health openly and compassionately, and not attaching labels like “crazy” to the discussion. We should advocate that learning skills for better mental health are smart and strong strategies in an increasingly difficult world. Additionally, we can work to make sure that the language we use about mental health is helpful and reinforces our goals to end suicide.
Oh and “Crazy” Is Problematic for Other Reasons
Not only does “crazy” create a genuine obstacle to seeking treatment, it’s pretty sexist. Women are more often described as “crazy” especially if they’re emotional. We aren’t so willing to call men’s behavior by the same name. Men get to be passionate. Women are labeled “crazy.” The sexism behind this term has real world implications. Since we’re more likely to call women’s behavior “crazy,” we’re also more likely to assume their emotional displays are extreme. Women are more likely to be prescribed anti-depressants than men. However, not all emotional women are depressed. It’s possible they’re just in a moment of distress. This in turn can affect men. Men are commonly under-diagnosed with depression because they are less likely to display their emotions. We need both genders to be able to receive the correct support when it’s needed if we’re serious about ending suicide.
Also somewhat confusingly “crazy” is used to describe a lot of different things. Sometimes, we use it to describe something that was really amazing. “That concert was CRAZY!” At other times we use “crazy” when something is bad. “It was an awful experience. It was just crazy.” The common use of this word means that we’re just more likely to describe a person along those same lines. However, when we use it to describe someone’s mental health or someone with mental health issues, it is hurtful and sometimes even dangerous.
In Closing…
It’s easy to see how the term “crazy” contributes to the stigma around mental health and how they factor into suicide. The more barriers we create, even accidentally, the harder we make it for people to seek help when help can be most effective. When we use “crazy” or “insane” to mean mental illness we add yet another obstacle for treatment. People with mental illness already feel different enough. By calling them or their behavior “crazy” we may be pushing them further down “The Ramp” towards suicide. We explore all this and more in our latest episode, Ep. 10 : “MYTH- Only ‘Crazy’ People Think About Suicide.”