The Big Picture
As a candidate, you will likely be asked difficult questions about mental health, addiction and homelessness throughout the campaign. Using respectful, evidence-informed language can help build trust, reduce stigma and keep conversations focused on solutions. This fact sheet provides practical tips on communicating about these issues with compassion.
What candidates should know
Mental health vs. mental illness
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It exists on a continuum and can fluctuate over time.
Mental illness (and substance use disorders) are health conditions that can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, behaviours and daily functioning. A person can experience poor mental health without having a mental illness, and someone living with a mental illness can have good mental health.
Substance use
People use substances for many reasons, including recreation, pain management and coping with stress or trauma. For some people, substance use can become harmful to themselves, their families, or communities and ultimately lead to addiction. Substance use exists on a spectrum, and not everyone who uses substances develops an addiction.
Reducing stigma and improving access to treatment are essential to helping people seek support.
Social Determinants of Health
The social and economic factors that shape our health, such as housing, income, education, employment and access to services.
Words matter
The language we use informs public attitudes and can either reduce or reinforce stigma.
Whenever possible, use person-first, non-judgmental language. People may describe themselves differently. When possible, respect the language individuals prefer.
| Consider saying | Instead of |
| Person with a substance use disorder | Addict, junkie |
| Person who uses drugs | Drug user |
| Substance use or higher-risk substance use | Drug abuse |
| Person living with a mental illness | Mentally ill person |
| Died by suicide | Committed suicide |
| Describe the behaviour instead (e.g., unusual, concerning) | Crazy, psycho, insane |
Housing and homelessness terms you may hear
Municipal discussions often include terminology related to homelessness. Some common terms include:
- Known homelessness: People identified through local homelessness services or community data systems.
- Hidden homelessness: People staying temporarily with friends, family or other informal arrangements because they have nowhere permanent to live.
- Chronic homelessness: Long-term or repeated experiences of homelessness over several years.
- Emergency shelter: Temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
- Supportive housing: Permanent housing paired with services that help people maintain housing and improve health and well-being.
- Housing First: An evidence-based approach that provides permanent housing as quickly as possible, while offering voluntary supports.
- Coordinated access: A community-wide system that prioritizes and matches people experiencing homelessness with housing and supports based on their needs.
Learn more
- CMHA Ontario – How do I talk about substance use?
- CMHA National – Words Matter: A Guide to Sensitive Language
Questions? Contact us at info@cmhabriefingroom.ca
Sources for this factsheet are available at cmhabriefingroom.ca/sources