Spiritual & Mental Health First aide Guide
- Emily Stephenson
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
Why This Matters
Understanding mental health language empowers you to communicate more clearly, recognize when someone may be struggling, and connect them with the right support. You don’t need to be a mental health professional to make a meaningful difference—just informed, compassionate, and ready to listen.
Common Terms in Mental Health
Here are some foundational terms to know:
Mental Health: A person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how they think, feel, and act.
Mental Illness: Conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and more.
Therapy (Psychotherapy): A treatment method involving talking with a trained mental health professional to address emotional and psychological challenges.
Counselor/Therapist: A trained professional who helps individuals manage emotional issues, life challenges, or mental health conditions.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor who specializes in mental health and can prescribe medication.
Why Language Matters
The words we choose can either break down someone or encourage them. Using thoughtful, respectful language not only encourages openness-it creates safety, trust and connection. By speaking with care, we create space for healing, vulnerablity, and support.
Common Mental Health Terms & What They Mean
1. Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
Mental Health: Your overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Just like physical health, mental health requires care and attention.
Example: “I focus on my mental health by practicing gratitude and getting enough sleep.”
Mental Illness: A condition that affects a person’s thinking, mood, or behavior in a way that disrupts daily life.
Example: “Depression is a common mental illness that can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming.”
2. Diagnosis & Symptoms
Diagnosis: The process of identifying a mental health condition based on symptoms, history, and evaluation by a mental health professional.
Example: “A doctor may diagnose someone with Generalized Anxiety Disorder if they experience excessive worry for six months or more.”
Symptoms: Signs that indicate a person may be experiencing a mental health condition. Symptoms can be emotional (feeling sad, irritable), cognitive (trouble focusing), physical (fatigue, headaches), or behavioral (withdrawal, impulsivity).
Example: “Some symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, and difficulty sleeping.”
3. Treatment & Recovery
Treatment: The process of managing a mental health condition. This may include therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these approaches.
Example: “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a treatment that helps people change negative thought patterns.”
Recovery: A lifelong journey toward better mental health. Recovery doesn’t always mean a condition disappears but involves learning to manage it effectively with the right help.
Example: “With proper support, people with bipolar disorder can lead healthy, fulfilling lives.”
4. Therapy & Counseling
Therapist/Counselor: A trained professional who helps people manage emotional, mental, and relational challenges.
Example: “Seeing a therapist helped me work through my anxiety in a healthy way and allowed me to process an experience in my life that I was ignoring.”
Psychiatrist vs. Psychologist:
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication.
A psychologist provides therapy and assessments but does not prescribe medication.
Christian Counseling: Therapy that integrates psychological principles with faith-based guidance.
5. Trauma & Stress Disorders
Trauma: A distressing or disturbing experience that has a lasting impact on mental health.
Example: “Surviving a car accident can lead to trauma that affects how someone feels in a vehicle.”
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder): A condition that occurs after experiencing a traumatic event, leading to flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional distress.
Triggers: Situations, words, or environments that cause someone to relive trauma or experience emotional distress.
Example: “Loud noises can be a trigger for someone who has experienced combat trauma.”
6. Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety: Persistent fear, worry, or nervousness that interferes with daily life.
Example: “Social anxiety makes it hard for some people to feel comfortable in large crowds.”
Depression: A mental health condition marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and fatigue.
Example: “Depression isn’t just feeling sad—it can make even daily tasks feel impossible.”
7. Addiction & Substance Abuse
Addiction: A compulsive dependence on a substance (drugs, alcohol) or behavior (gambling, social media).
Example: “Someone struggling with addiction may find it hard to stop using even when they want to.”
Withdrawal: The physical and emotional symptoms that occur when stopping an addictive substance.
Recovery Programs: Support systems like 12-step programs, therapy, and faith-based recovery groups that help individuals overcome addiction.
8. Suicidal Thoughts & Crisis Intervention
Suicidal Ideation: Thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.
Example: “If someone expresses suicidal thoughts, it’s important to listen and help them seek support immediately.”
Crisis Intervention: Immediate support and action to prevent harm in a mental health emergency.
Self-Harm: Intentional injury to oneself as a way to cope with emotional distress.
9. Boundaries & Self-Care
Boundaries: The limits we set to protect our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Example: “Setting boundaries with a toxic family member helped me feel more at peace.”
Self-Care: Intentional actions to maintain mental and emotional health, like prayer, rest, or therapy.
Example: “Taking a walk outside every morning is part of my self-care routine.”
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