Has your brain stopped working? Well, if you’ve been around the internet in recent years, you’ll have had the opportunity to stumble across some worrying conversations between millennials and Generation Z.
These generations use jargon even when having a serious discussion, which worries experts.
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- How can slang affect mental health stigma?
- What are some of the slang used by Generation Z?
- Why do Generation Z and Millennials use these slang words?
How can slang affect mental health stigma?
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Conversations around mental health are already absorbing stigma, even as many attempt to actively destigmatize these mental health conditions. However, experts believe that excessive use of jargon when talking about these mental problems could lead to greater stigmatization of these conditions.
Some doctors believe that using informal jargon to describe serious mental health problems instead of legitimate diagnostic terms could lead to greater stigmatization in the mainstream.
What are some of the slang used by Generation Z?
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Experts have noticed how many people on the Internet use terms like “menty b” to describe different levels of mental breakdown. The term has racked up strange numbers on platforms like TikTok. The slang has spread to products like Etsy mugs, t-shirts, and hoodies with “menty b” emblazoned on them.
In addition to “menty b,” there is “stressy depressy,” equally disturbing slang. Others include “suey” (suicidal) and “sticky sock vacation” (referring to the footwear one receives during a stay in a psychiatric hospital).
Why do Generation Z and Millennials use these slang words?
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Ironically, most people who use these terms online use them in hopes of destigmatizing mental health. They also feel that the nonchalance of jargon could help people easily talk about these serious issues and even relate to others struggling with similar issues.
However, experts say overuse of such shorthand terms could blur the line between jokes and serious cries for help.
“These trivial uses of these types of terms can really minimize and invalidate people who are really struggling,” explained Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn