Language matters, especially when it comes to how people experiencing a mental health crisis are described and treated.
After years of advocacy from the mental health community and its allies, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sept. 26 retired the term “emotionally disturbed person,” or EDP — long considered disparaging — and signed legislation requiring all state and city agencies, including law enforcement, hospitals, fire departments and correctional facilities, to replace the term with person-first language: “person experiencing an emotional crisis” (PEC/PEEC). The 911 system will also have to adopt the new term.
