Israeli Mental Health Group Urges Politicians to Stop Stigmatizing Language in Election Campaign

As Israel faces a surge in mental health challenges following ongoing conflict, the nonprofit Enosh has appealed to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and political leaders to cease using mental health terminology as political insults during the current election campaign. In a letter sent on Tuesday, Enosh, a leading mental health advocacy organization, called for a respectful campaign language that avoids terms like "crazy," "mentally ill," "psycho," or references to psychiatric hospitalization as insults. The group emphasized that such language not only demeans political opponents but also harms hundreds of thousands of Israelis struggling with mental health issues and their families.

Enosh highlighted that the misuse of psychiatric terms perpetuates harmful stereotypes linking mental illness with danger or erratic behavior, which are unfounded and deepen stigma. This stigmatizing rhetoric can cause people suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other conditions to feel shame, conceal their struggles, and avoid seeking treatment. The organization stressed that language significantly impacts public attitudes and individuals’ willingness to seek help.

Enosh’s CEO Dr. Hila Hadas and Chair Dr. Ofer Ophir urged all parties and candidates to lead by example and maintain a dignified discourse throughout the election. Dr. Hadas stated that normalizing respectful language around mental health is crucial, especially during times of national trauma, and called on politicians to refrain from using psychiatric terms as political weapons. The organization framed mental health as a universal issue transcending political divides, underscoring the heightened responsibility of public officials in this sensitive period.