Maren (and Elise, who also asks about how to act/what to say),
I think the key is knowing you know nothing, approaching with respect and, when you do say something that's accidentally hurtful or wrong, admit it and learn from it. None of us are perfect. Even the most thoughtful of us has unintentionally been insensitive or even insulting out of ignorance, not only to the mentally ill but about issues of racism, sexism, disability, etc. (Raise your hand if you even once laughed while calling someone a retard and now feel regret.)
Compassion is an educational process. In the end, and this is not meant harshly, it's all on you (and me) individually. Jess or anyone else can't say for sure how to talk to everyone who deals with mental illness. We're all different! :) Sure, some people call taking this kind of care around other people's feelings and differences being politically correct. I call it correct. Or maybe correctly trying, if stumblingly, to be a good human being.
