To hate the "Mental Health" brigade.

[IAKnowyou]

It is becoming increasingly clear that many people do not know how to articulate a sentence. Especially on social media.
I am seeing - more and more, people claiming they "suffer from mental health".
Of course you bloody do. Everybody has "mental health"!! What you mean is that you have BAD mental health! That you are struggling WITH your mental health.
Some of the common phrases I DESPISE are as follows :
"I have/ I've got mental health"
"If you suffer from mental health..."
"He/She/They have got mental health"
"Mental Health can happen to anyone"
"I have severe mental health"
Just add a little something to the end such as "issues, problems, struggles" and you'll be good. But PLEASE for the love of god, learn to speak properly !!

AIKnowyou You'd hate to work where I do. No idea why but in my school some of the kids ask - "Can I HAVE a toilet?" It drives me mad! I correct them every single time. I talk about it at the beginning of the year when the newbies arrive. Yet still they continue!

What happened a hundred years ago if you had chronic anxiety

Probably locked up in an institution?
Or else took chloral hydrate or laudanum.

I agree with you. I've often thought when people say 'I've got mental health','Yeah,we've all got mental health!'. Really annoys me.

This

To be fair it is probably better on the whole to talk about mental health instead of mental illness.

Well I mean it's an irritating turn of phrase, but you "hate" them for it? Really?!

I like the fact that we've reached a place in society where people can communicate their mental health concerns. As a teacher I want young people to talk about how they feel and to remove the stigma that it's something to be ashamed of. What worries me is that some people don't seem to want to do anything about it- a bit like being diagnosed with high blood pressure or worrying blood sugar levels. Obviously support is needed and professional intervention might be necessary, however I'd like to see mental health charities promote more empowerment.

Another thread where (some) MNers sneer at others less educated or intelligent than themselves.

Two separate things in your post which need unpicking:

Poor grammar which is irritating but not a crime and people are often posting in distress so I'd let this go. It's equivalent to people who say "should of" instead of "should have". Almost certainly down to poor education, not their fault and not worth making a drama out of.

Over-emphasis on "mental health" as an issue in society and the conflation of genuine mental illness with stress, anxiety or mental discomfort. This is a real issue: I think its increasingly used as a get-out-of-jail-free for bad behaviour.

Yes!!!! The funny thing is that if these Mumsnetters were truly of superior intelligence they would do their research and step outside of their little bubble and discover that there are many reasons why people don’t spell or communicate perfectly.

It’s actually quite naff and old fashioned to judge people on these things in this day and age considering what we know about people’s abilities often being no fault of their own.

People aren’t just thick, lazy or trying to annoy you OP.

This annoys me and I have a mental health condition

WHY?

Well no, not really. But I've never actually given this a second thought, so I appreciate hearing another perspective on this.
I have never assumed this to be derogatory or even rude really. I use and have always used "brigade" to mean "bunch" "group" of people etc.

You've made a good point there. I hadn't thought of this.

That's not the case at all here. At least not for me.
If somebody is actively expressing that they are struggling mentally, and they have said it wrong, I, of course, will not correct them. That would be wrong of me.
But I see these sort of mistakes made a lot, generally on social media, and it really grates on me. That's not a crime. And it certainly doesn't mean I don't have empathy.

It’s not just you!!!!

I’ve been complaining about this for ages.

“I have knees.”

Meaningless.

”I have bad knees/ knee issues.”

Meaningful.

@Joker01 but language is important. Hugely important.

We used to have a phrase “mentally ill” or “mental illness” or “mental health disorder” which tended to mean something really serious.

Then on the other hand it was “poor mental health” or “mental health issues”.

I don’t know if someone diagnosed with a psychotic, bi polar or schizophrenic problem would now say “I’ve got mental health.”

What about someone suicidal a have they “got mental health”?

It has become a catch-all and the lack of specificity tends to invite people to trivialise.

To me, it’s a bit like you saying to me “I’ve got allergies” when what that might mean is, you sniffle in June when you walk through fields or meet a cat, or you might mean, you’ll asphyxiate when you encounter a trace of peanut.

Am I going to start saying, “I’ve got Age Related” when what I mean is, “I’ve got macular degeneration and osteoporosis due to my advanced years.”

I find it problematic, and unhelpful, for havin effective discussions.

Oh no, yes I think that would finish me off ! 🤣
It reminds me of how much I hate the term "I'm going to get a shower" instead of "take" or "have". Yes theoretically they're all possessive.. it just sounds WRONG.

But there is no sneering about it. This is not about having more of less of an education. I went to a normal state school, not private. It is purely just bad use of wording, that if you think about it.. really doesn't make much sense.

This.

@Lavender14
I would never pull somebody up on this sort of thing in person.
But when I'm seeing it left, right and centre online.. I will moan about it a little.

Do you use the terms 'cancer brigade' or 'wheelchair brigade' if not, why not?

Next time you meet someone with cancer or someone with a loved one with cancer say: 'im sick of the cancer brigade' and 'i hate the cancer brigade' see if it makes you feel awkward or if it upsets the person you are speaking to. If either are the case then don't use that language around mental health !!

It does tickle me. When someone says 'I've got mental elf' I just say 'that's great! Glad to hear it' :)

@Serencwtch No, I wouldn't. Because I don't have an issue with wheelchair users, and haven't noticed incorrect terminology or language surrounding this. Nor with cancer. Same applies.
It's the " I av mental elf" brigade that grate on me.
The same way "I've got a bit of a head" (a headache)
"Got a bit of a chest at the moment" (cough) annoy me immensely also.