By Harold Maio

Special to the Salisbury Post

The words we use are not always ours.

President Obama says there is a stigma to mental illnesses. The words come from him, but it is likely a prejudice he does not hold.

Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York City, says there is a stigma to mental illness. The words issue from him, but it is likely a prejudice he does not hold.

On one of his recent shows, Dr. Oz connected stigma and shame to mental illnesses. The words came through him, though those are prejudices he likely does not  hold.

Two national mental health advocacies say there is a stigma to mental illnesses. The words come from them, but it is likely a prejudice they do not hold.

Editors and reporters regularly say there is a stigma to mental illnesses; I follow those words in the daily news. The words come from them, but it is likely a prejudice they do not hold.

Many universities say there is a stigma to mental illnesses. The words come through them, but it is likely a prejudice they do not hold.

Words come through us, sometimes without us noticing. We mean to say “there are people who, through their ignorance, misinformation or disinformation direct a prejudice.” We do not mean to be them, to be either the words or the people. We do not mean to be among those disinforming, but on occasion we are. I have been.

I am 78, and for much of my early life my words directed prejudices, words issued through me directing deeply hurting prejudices I did not expereince. Civil rights movements occurred exposing those prejudices to me. Age occurred, education occurred, and sometimes enlightenment. I try to draw upon those lessons today, and still words issue from me that are not my own, and I am left to confront them when they are exposed to me.

My favorite philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote that “Word is Deed,” and indeed the words we employ are themselves acts. We are responsible for those acts. Each word we repeat without examining it for personal responsibility, specificity and accuracy is become our word; ergo, the need to examine each one.

Harold Maio of Fort Myers, Fla. is a retired mental health editor.