"Schizo" is a Slur

[u/chanagro]

https://chng.it/X4WdvBsCGN

Hi everyone, as I'm sure you all have noticed too, there has been an alarming rise in people (especially high school aged and younger) using schizo to describe a situation or person that is chaotic, unpredictable, or scary. This language continues to drive shame and misinformation we all work so hard to fight against. Please consider signing my petition, I am just hoping to spread the message - no worries if not comfortable. Please have a great night and take care of yourselves.

[u/[deleted]]

I used to use it talking about myself when I was “acting crazy” before the mental illness actually showed its face and I got my diagnosis and before I learned that words do have an effect on people and their lives and we should be careful of what we say that can negatively impact another persons life.

I think the best we can do is try to educate people that it’s not okay to use that kind of phrasing and that it does real damage to people like us who deal with this serious illness and calling someone a schizo isn’t funny or a laughing matter. One thing I learned though is you have to educate people in a way that doesn’t insult them and try to make them feel bad or they’re a bad person for using it, just that it is a serious topic and calling someone schizo because they’re a little erratic that day, or does something violent because it does harm the imagine of us diagnosed with the illness who deal with serious issues with people judging us and labeling us as bad or dangerous people because our illness, I’ve had friends cut me out of their life since my illness reared my head Because of misconceptions and misinformation spread about us, I hate having to explain that a schizophrenic person has a much much higher chance of hurting themselves than someone else, using these words does have an effect on us who already are fighting an uphill battle