Use neutral terminology

Empathy and goodwill are important and necessary, but sometimes we can subconsciously add too much emotional subtext to our words. For example, the wording “victim of domestic violence” is often used in the media, although it is preferable to use the term “person who has experienced domestic violence”. Another example is the phrase “person suffering from a mental disorder”. There are many types of mental disorders that people live with throughout their entire lives, but this does not mean that they are constantly suffering from their conditions. People manage their disorders with the help of therapy or medication, they have a diagnosis, but apart from that their lives are the same as other peoples’. Therefore, instead of using the word “suffers from”, it’s best to say “has”, “lives with”. Other correct terms include “a person with a disability”, “a person with a mental disorder”, “a person who lives with HIV”.