Effective Health Communication: Using Inclusive Language and Images

Prepared by Samuel Mendez

As health communicators, we must make health messages relevant to the communities we serve. That means we must speak to diverse audiences, including communities that are underrepresented in mainstream media. Use the resources on this page to disrupt these communication inequities through language and photos.

Use language that community members promote

It’s important to avoid stigmatizing or misleading language when you discuss health issues. To this end, it’s helpful to follow the example of communities experiencing the health issues you want to discuss. Use language and story framing promoted by advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, and professional groups with lived experience.

Keep in mind that there will never be complete consensus on language to describe a community or a health issue. You must still make language choices reflecting your current understanding and communication goals. At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own content. You should be able to explain why you use certain words and phrases without just pointing to an external resource.

Finally, remember that language changes over time. Inclusive communication involves a constant learning process. We live in a dynamic world with changing politics and social norms. If we want to make space for all people in our health communication, we can’t rely on outdated knowledge

Use these resources to learn more about inclusive, accurate language

• Conscious Style Guide
• NAJA Media Guide for Reporting on First Nations
• National Association of Black Journalists Style Guide
• Trans Journalists Association Style Book and Coverage Guide
• Disability Language Style Guide from the National Center on Disability and Journalism

Use imagery that depicts diverse experiences of health

Health is not just for one community. And no community has a completely uniform experience of health. Use imagery that reflects diverse experiences of health. This includes attention to race, gender, disability, age, body size, and more. If you’re discussing a broad health topic, it’s important to depict its relevance to diverse communities. If you’re focusing on a specific community, it’s still important to depict the diversity within it. These may feel like decisions with small impacts, but they are an important part of disrupting health communication inequities.

Use these stock photo collections for diverse depictions of health

• OpenPeeps library of hand drawn illustrations
• Humaaans library of mix-and-match illustrations
• Plus-Size Stock Photo collection from AllGo
• Obesity Canada Image Bank
• Indigenous Stock Image collection from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority
• Disabled and Here stock image collection from Affect the Verb
• Stock image collection of Black and Brown people from Nappy
• Age-positive image library from the Centre for Ageing Better
• Gender Spectrum stock photo collection from Vice
• Disability Inclusive Stock Photography from Disability:IN

Conclusion

This tipsheet offered advice to make inclusive content. It provided resources and advice to learn more about inclusive, accurate language. And it provided resources to use photos and illustrations that depict diverse experiences of health.

This tipsheet is part of a series on clear communication. It bridges knowledge from health literacy, web accessibility, and journalism to help you elevate your health communication. Combine your inclusive content with clear writing and clear graphic design for even more impact.

This tipsheet was prepared by Samuel R. Mendez. It was reviewed by Amanda Yarnell and Elissa Scherer.