In the field of behavioral health, words are often our primary tools. We don’t have hammers and saws, thermometers and stethoscopes, or brushes and palettes. Words are powerful tools and using them with intention is central to our craft.

How often have you asked yourself, “Should I say BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) or People of Color? Limited English Proficient (LEP) or Non-English Language Preference (NELP)? Minority or minoritized? At OBHE, we receive these questions routinely and struggle with them often. There are times when an answer is straightforward, but more often, the complexity of the issue leads to the response: “It depends.” Facing this ambiguity, we decided to develop a Guide to Equity Terminology (GET) as a decision-support tool. And, in recognition of July as Minority Mental Health Month, we are sharing a preview of the GET.

Read more: https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/guide-to-equity-terminology?utm_source=SAMHSA