As part of World Schizophrenia Days, until March 23, a petition was launched at the end of February against the use of psychological disorders, including schizophrenia, as insults. In the viewfinder, politicians who use it to attack an adversary, creating a stigmatization of complex psychiatric pathology. It affects 24 million people worldwide, according to the WHO, including 600,000 in France, and can sometimes result in hallucinations and a disturbed perception of reality.
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It was last February 25 at the agricultural show: “ No, but I think that Mr. Macron suffers from a worrying and dangerous schizophrenia. » Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally party, then used the adjective “ schizophrenic » to attack French President Emmanuel Macron.
This isn’t the first time and he’s far from the only one to do it. This is starting to annoy Hugo Baup, a hospital psychiatrist in Périgueux, in the southwest of France: “ We are starting to rebel a little because for several months, we have been reacting to the excesses of politicians and journalists. We don’t always have an answer. »
In his petition launched at the end of February, he therefore launches an appeal, “ stop using mental disorders as insults! » : « It is believed that the French language is sufficiently rich and beautiful for other synonyms to be used to say paradoxical or contradictory than, for example, schizophrenia or autism. »
Door open to certain prejudices
Using these words wrongly means risking shortcuts, explains the psychiatrist: “ Sticking to just the synonym of paradox or contradictory completely misses this disease. »
Assimilating these pathologies to insults also opens the door to certain prejudices that Hugo Baup wants to combat: “ It is important to remember that people who suffer from psychological disorders are not more violent than the general population. On the other hand, they are more at risk of experiencing violence themselves. »
In total, 13,000 people signed his petition: deputies and senators may do so soon since the text was sent to them by Hugo Baup. He hopes that political leaders will become aware.
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