As children grow, the language they learn communicates significant meaning in relation to cultural beliefs, attitudes and identities. Therefore we cannot segregate language learning from cultural learning. As children learn to speak, the words inevitably carry codes and meanings that are embodied in the culture associated with the language. This raises an interesting discussion – if language has been pivotal in creating the infrastructure which upholds negative stereotyping surrounding mental health problems, does it have a role to play in reversing these attitudes?
