The emergence of mental health as a talking point in media reports and conversations around COVID-19 has demonstrated how language can be a barrier to wellness and recovery. “Elevating Language through COVID-19” provides a 360-degree view of the language of behavioral health. In the training, we take a peer-centered look at how language is used by others to describe us, how we use language to describe ourselves, and how language can increase or decrease stigma and access to quality mental health recovery and wellness supports. In “Part One: The Power of Language,” we will look at the behavioral health language that has emerged through the COVID-19 pandemic, and discuss alternatives and opportunities. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the power of language in mental health advocacy
• Use historical precedents to approach COVID-19 advocacy
• Identify effective language for advocacy
• Replace challenging language with strengths-based language
• Use language with intent and purpose throughout COVID-19