A person is a person first. When talking about a person’s diagnosis, using person first language recognizes that an individual is first and foremost an individual who has been created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26 NIV). It maintains the integrity of an individual as a whole human being by distinguishing the person from their diagnosis. For example, I work for an organization in Indiana that serves individuals who have substance use disorder (SUD). Notice how the language separates the person from an issue they may be struggling. We call this Person First Language. Person First Language also helps individuals to maintain their identity by removing language that equates people with their struggle, disorder, condition or disability. This is also considered non-stigmatizing language. Using non-stigmatizing language is actually considered to be an evidence based best practice.
Examples of Person First Language:
- Person with borderline personality disorder in stead of “a borderline person”;
- Person with substance use disorder instead of “addict”;
- Return to use instead of “relapse”;
- Testing positive instead of “dirty test”;
- Unhoused or person experiencing homelessness instead of “homeless”;
- Person in recovery or recoveree instead of “former addict”;
- Substance use disorder instead of “habit”;
- Person with substance use disorder instead of “alcoholic”;
- Person with Bipolar Disorder instead of “Bipolar”;
- Person with a disability instead of “disabled”
- Person with Down syndrome instead of “Downs”;
- Person with diabetes instead of “diabetic”;
- Person with cancer instead of “cancer patient”.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), using non-stigmatizing language is important for some of the following reasons:
- A person who feels stigmatized may be less willing to seek treatment and receive needed help;
- Research shows that the use of stigmatizing language in health care settings can negatively impact the quality of care provided to individuals with substance use disorders;
- The stereotyping of individuals with substance use disorder can cause others to feel, “pity, fear, anger or desire to social distance from people with SUD” when they are in fact our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, moms, dads, uncles, aunts, and best friends.
Please don’t underestimate the impact of words – they are powerful! There is a verse in the Bible that is very applicable to this topic. The verse states, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6 ESV).
Resources on Person First Language:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust/perspectives/writing-respectfully-person-first-identity-first-languagehttps://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/science-health-public-trust/perspectives/writing-respectfully-person-first-identity-first-language.