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Collecting data on physical disabilities and/or mental health conditions

There are some recommendations for language when collecting data on physical disabilities and/or mental health conditions:

  • The word ‘disabled’ is a description and not a group of people. Use ‘disabled people’ not ‘the disabled’ as the collective term.
  • Avoid medical labels as they say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as ‘patients’ or unwell.
  • Don’t automatically refer to ‘disabled people’ in all communications – many people who need disability benefits and services don’t identify with this term.
  • Consider using ‘people with physical and mental health conditions or impairments’ if it seems more appropriate.
  • Avoid phrases like ‘suffers from’ which suggest discomfort, constant pain, and a sense of hopelessness.
  • Common phrases that may associate impairments with negative things should be avoided, for example ‘deaf to our pleas’ or ‘blind drunk’.
  • Avoid passive, victim words. Use language that respects disabled people as active individuals with control over their own lives.
  • Avoid talking about mental illness in a way that can alienate members of the community, sensationalise the issue, and contribute to stigma and discrimination. For example, below are some suggested terms for mental health conditions:
    • A person is ‘living with’ or ‘has a diagnosis of’ mental health condition
    • A person is ‘being treated for’ or ‘someone with’ a mental health condition
    • A person has a ‘diagnosis of’ or ‘is being treated for’ schizophrenia

The following are examples of how physical disabilities and mental health conditions data could be collected:

Q. How is your health in general?
(Source: adapted from the England and Wales Census 2021)

  • Very good
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Bad
  • Very bad
  • Don’t know
  • Prefer not to say

Q. Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?
(Source: adapted from the England and Wales Census 2021)

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don’t know
  • Prefer not to say

Note: What we mean by “physical and mental health conditions or illnesses”: This is about health conditions, illnesses or impairments you may have. Consider conditions that always affect you and those that flare up from time to time. These may include, for example, sensory conditions, developmental conditions or learning impairments.