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THE CONSCIOUS LANGUAGE GUIDE

THE CONSCIOUS LANGUAGE GUIDE

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TOPICS


Autism

Disability

Mental Health

Racism, Race, & Ethnicity

HIV

Sex and Sexual Health

Sex vs Gender

Substance Use

Suicide

View All


STORIES


How to Recognize Cultural Appropriation — and What to Do Next

How Intent and Impact Differ and Why It Matters

How to Find Bilingual Medical Professionals in Your Area

View All


ABOUT


Our Process

Our Approach

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CONSCIOUS LANGUAGE GUIDE

Conscious language is about expanding representation and being intentional with
our words, always with the goal of helping you improve your health. Numerous
studies show that hurtful or careless words from healthcare professionals can
affect your mental and physical health. That stigma stigma This is when a person
or an organization sees someone in a negative way because of a particular
characteristic or attribute, such as their skin color, cultural background, a
disability, or a mental health condition.‍ can literally make people sick.  

To that end, Healthline’s Conscious Language Guide serves as a useful tool for
anyone seeking to learn and speak with empathy empathy This describes the
ability to sense and understand other people’s emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
about specific health topics. The guide also aims to educate allies and
potential allies on how we can all do better, recognize the current state of how
we/they communicate, and make immediate changes that can help themselves and
others.


Topics


AUTISM


DISABILITY


FOOD ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY


FOOD SECURITY


HIV


MENTAL HEALTH


RACISM, RACE, AND ETHNICITY


SEX AND SEXUAL HEALTH


SEX VS. GENDER


SUBSTANCE USE


SUICIDE




OUR APPROACH

While it would be much easier to be able to list the definitive dos and don’ts
of language, that is not possible. Language is always changing and evolving and
any list would soon be out of date which is why we are always listening for
changes.

Additionally, there are no definitively ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers to what
language to use. Context is important and what works for us might not work for
you. This is why considering your approach to language is key and where you need
to have a strong foundation. While specific word choices will change over time,
our community approach first ensures that we are prioritising those who are the
most important to what we do; our readers.


OUR FOCUS

Our Conscious Language Initiative places community at the center and is grounded
in the research of health communication. There are four main areas where we
focus our efforts to practice allyship for our readers:


FRAMING AND PHRASING



This includes understanding the nuances between when to use person-first
language person-first language This places the focus of a sentence on the
individual, not on the condition or disability they might have. It means that
“person” or “people” comes first in the sentence, before any other identifier.
(“People with diabetes may need to make dietary modifications.”) and when to use
identity-first language identity-first language This treats disability as an
identity category. It means that the identifying word or phrase comes first in a
sentence and highlights the person’s or group’s acceptance of their identity.
(“Autistic children like to play.”) as well as how to frame topics that take
into account social, economic, and environmental considerations.


ACKNOWLEDGING BIAS



We are continually learning how to spot bias in research so as not to replicate
it in our content.


RELATABLE AND INCLUSIVE



This is an important consideration for the health of marginalized communities.
Tailoring health messages for vulnerable groups can be more effective than
providing general health messages.




OUR RESEARCH PROCESS

1

PRIORITIZE

Our efforts prioritize conditions facing high stigma stigma This is when a
person or an organization sees someone in a negative way because of a particular
characteristic or attribute, such as their skin color, cultural background, a
disability, or a mental health condition.‍ and communities that have been
historically marginalized. It is here that we can have a greater impact on the
lives of our readers.

2

CONDUCT RESEARCH

Information comes from our usual sources, such as published research and
government data, but to get a deeper understanding, we also talk with community
members and draw from the humanities, such as anthropology and history, to
understand the economic, social, and environmental factors that contribute to a
condition and how it is perceived.

3

CO-CREATE AND REVIEW

Individuals are the experts of their lived experience. We work with community
members to co-create and review our language choices on a recurring basis.

4

IMPLEMENT

This includes using conscious language in new content as well as updating
existing content. Implementation is essential, and those at Healthline Media who
diligently employ the conscious language initiative in their everyday work are
integral to ensuring that our content is empathetic, non- stigma stigma This is
when a person or an organization sees someone in a negative way because of a
particular characteristic or attribute, such as their skin color, cultural
background, a disability, or a mental health condition.‍ tizing, and inclusive.

5

EVALUATE

We set expectations for our content and strive to meet them. We update our
content to reflect the evolving nature of language and the needs of different
communities, and we frequently review and revise our conscious language
guidelines.




SUBSCRIBE TO STAY INFORMED

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