23 Phrases About Mental Health That Sounds Supportive But Can Be More Harmful

When it comes to discussing mental health, words matter greatly. Even well-intentioned phrases, if chosen poorly, can come across as insensitive or dismissive to those struggling. Some common expressions, while meant to offer comfort or encouragement, may inadvertently diminish or misunderstand mental health challenges. Below, we explore 23 phrases that, despite good intentions, might be better replaced with more thoughtful language.

Though intended to provide perspective, this phrase can make someone feel as if their struggles are insignificant. By pointing out that things “could be worse,” it may suggest that their pain is invalid. People with mental health challenges need support and understanding, not comparisons. Instead, acknowledging their feelings can go a long way toward showing empathy.

Encouraging positivity might seem helpful, but it can feel dismissive to someone facing mental health issues. It implies that they’re simply not trying hard enough to be happy, which isn’t the case. Mental health challenges often go beyond mindset and require deeper support. Rather than urging positivity, offering a listening ear is often more supportive.

This phrase might seem like a way to provide perspective, but it can invalidate someone’s feelings. Comparisons often don’t help people struggling mentally; instead, they can feel shamed for their emotions. Each person’s experience is unique and deserves validation. Listening and acknowledging their experience is often more beneficial than making comparisons.

This phrase may intend to comfort, but it can feel dismissive, suggesting they should be thankful their situation isn’t worse. Minimizing their pain by comparing it to a hypothetical worse situation can be hurtful. People often need understanding rather than comparison. Offering reassurance and a safe space to share can be far more comforting.

Intended to provide meaning to suffering, this phrase may feel like a denial of someone’s pain. It suggests that their struggle is justified by some larger purpose, which can be dismissive of their lived experience. Not everyone finds comfort in this idea, especially when they’re dealing with significant mental challenges. Offering empathy without assumptions can be more comforting.

This phrase suggests that mental health challenges are temporary inconveniences, which isn’t always true. Telling someone they’ll “get over it” can make them feel their pain is trivial or short-lived. Mental health recovery varies greatly, and challenges don’t always have a clear end. Offering patience and understanding can be more supportive than minimizing their experience.

While this phrase may aim to lighten the moment, it can feel invalidating. Mental health struggles often go far beyond a single bad day, and dismissing them as such can feel diminishing. People facing these issues may feel isolated when their experiences are minimized. Acknowledging the depth of their feelings can foster more genuine support.

Though meant as a suggestion, this phrase can feel dismissive, as it implies that mental health struggles are just a matter of willpower. Telling someone to ignore their feelings can make them feel unsupported and alone. Mental health issues are complex and often require professional guidance. Offering support without simple fixes is often more helpful.

This phrase implies that mental health issues are easily solvable if the person just tried harder. For someone struggling, this can feel minimizing and frustrating. Mental health is often complex and requires more than sheer willpower to overcome. Offering to be there through their journey can be far more supportive.

This phrase can be incredibly dismissive, as it implies that mental health struggles are imaginary or unimportant. Mental health conditions often have real, impactful effects on someone’s life. People need validation that their pain is real, not that they’re imagining it. Recognizing the weight of their experience shows empathy and respect.

Encouraging someone to focus only on positive aspects of life can feel dismissive of their struggles. Mental health issues often persist despite positive thinking, and this phrase might suggest they’re simply not trying hard enough. People may need to process difficult emotions rather than ignore them. Validating their experience can be far more helpful than urging them to ignore the negative.

While meant as an observation, this comment can feel invalidating by suggesting that mental health has a “look.” Depression and other mental health challenges aren’t always visible and can affect anyone, regardless of appearance. This phrase may also make someone feel pressured to “prove” their pain. Recognizing that struggles aren’t always visible is often more understanding.

Telling someone they’re “stronger than this” can imply that their struggles stem from weakness, which can feel deeply hurtful. Mental health challenges aren’t a matter of strength or weakness. This phrase may put pressure on the individual to hide their struggles rather than seek help. Acknowledging their strength for facing these issues is often more supportive than minimizing them.

This phrase, though intended to encourage gratitude, can make someone feel guilty for their emotions. It implies that their feelings are ungrateful or unjustified, which can worsen their mental state. Mental health struggles can happen regardless of external circumstances. Offering empathy and understanding can help more than reminding them to be grateful.

While this phrase is meant to provide hope, it can unintentionally place pressure on someone to recover quickly. Mental health journeys vary, and improvement doesn’t always come soon. Telling someone they’ll feel better soon may make them feel worse if recovery takes longer than expected. Offering ongoing support without setting expectations for their progress can be more helpful.

Exercise can indeed benefit mental health, but suggesting it as a quick fix can feel dismissive of deeper struggles. Mental health issues are complex and may require more than physical activity to improve. This phrase might unintentionally trivialize their challenges by offering an oversimplified solution. Listening and understanding their needs without giving unsolicited advice can be more supportive.

While this phrase may aim to normalize mental health challenges, it can make someone feel their pain is common and unremarkable. Each person’s struggles are unique and deserve attention, not comparison. This statement may make someone feel like they should just “deal with it” rather than seek help. Validating their individual experience often provides better support.

This phrase can feel minimizing, as it suggests that mental health challenges are just a normal part of life that should be accepted. For someone struggling, it may imply that their pain doesn’t matter or isn’t worthy of help. While life has ups and downs, mental health issues often require more than just “accepting” them. Offering genuine empathy can be far more supportive.

While this phrase is meant to encourage someone to move forward, it may make them feel guilty for processing their feelings. Telling someone not to “dwell” can imply that they’re overreacting or lingering unnecessarily on their pain. Processing emotions is a valid part of mental health recovery, not something to be dismissed. Encouraging open conversation is often more helpful than urging them to move on quickly.

Though intended to help, telling someone to “stop overthinking” can feel dismissive. Many mental health conditions involve complex thought patterns that are difficult to control. Simplifying their struggles to “overthinking” might make them feel they’re just not trying hard enough. Acknowledging their challenges and offering understanding is often more supportive than providing easy solutions.

Telling someone to “toughen up” implies that their mental health challenges result from a lack of resilience, which can be deeply invalidating. Mental health issues are not about toughness or weakness but often require support and care. This phrase can make someone feel weak for having emotions, discouraging them from opening up. Offering understanding and respect for their journey is far more supportive.

Accusing someone of overreacting can make them feel ashamed of their emotions and hesitant to open up further. Mental health struggles are deeply personal, and each person’s reaction is valid. Minimizing their feelings as an “overreaction” can discourage them from seeking support. Accepting their response as real and valid can foster a more open conversation.

While intended to comfort, this phrase can make someone feel like their pain is trivial. Minimizing their feelings by saying it’s “not that bad” can make them feel unheard or dismissed. Each person’s experience of mental health challenges is unique, and downplaying it can feel hurtful. Offering a listening ear rather than judging the severity of their feelings is often more supportive.

In summary, even the most well-meaning phrases can sometimes be harmful when addressing mental health. Acknowledging someone’s pain, avoiding comparisons, and offering genuine empathy are often more supportive than attempting to offer quick solutions. The next time you talk to someone struggling with mental health, remember the impact words can have. Small adjustments in language can create a more compassionate and understanding conversation.