mental health | Campus Safe Words

TERM: mental health
RISK LEVEL: Moderate

Definition

“Mental health” refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It encompasses how individuals think, feel, and behave, and it influences how they handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. In higher education, the term is often used in student services, counseling centers, and wellness initiatives to describe support for issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress management.

Why It’s Risky

The term “mental health” has become politically sensitive in some conservative policy contexts due to its frequent use in institutional programming that blends therapeutic language with ideological advocacy. When mental health is presented as a justification for DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives or tied to identity-based trauma narratives, it may draw scrutiny from lawmakers concerned about ideological overreach or misuse of public funds. In states with legislation such as Florida’s HB 1557 and Texas SB 17, scrutiny has increased around programming that positions mental health as linked to perceived social justice activism, including the assertion that systemic bias causes emotional harm. Additionally, some critics argue that colleges may overextend their purview by framing political or cultural discomfort as a mental health crisis, thereby using wellness rhetoric to chill speech or silence dissent. Institutions that include “mental health” language in syllabi, required training, or faculty guidelines risk being perceived as adopting therapeutic models that replace academic rigor with emotional accommodation.

Common Critiques

Conservative lawmakers and commentators frequently challenge the expansion of mental health services on campuses when these services are tied to cultural or political programming. One major critique is that colleges are pathologizing ordinary emotional challenges, leading to the infantilization of students. Critics argue that labeling common stressors—such as hearing opposing views or experiencing social discomfort—as “mental health issues” promotes emotional fragility and undermines the goals of higher education. In this view, students should be equipped to engage with challenging ideas rather than shielded from them.

Another concern is financial. Critics claim that the expansion of mental health infrastructure can divert resources from academic instruction and core services, particularly when tied to administrative growth or non-academic hires. Republican-led audits in states like Iowa and Oklahoma have questioned whether such programs fall outside the appropriate scope of public institutions. Mental health offices that adopt language aligned with identity-based trauma or critical theory may be seen as violating new laws restricting the teaching or promotion of “divisive concepts.”

There is also a philosophical critique: mental health frameworks imported from clinical settings may be misapplied in academic contexts, leading to the over-medicalization of campus life. This criticism is heightened when programming conflates psychological well-being with ideological conformity or when students are encouraged to report perceived emotional harm from faculty or peers.

Acceptable Alternatives

1. Student well-being

2. Emotional wellness

3. Counseling services

4. Psychological support

5. Resilience and coping resources

When It’s Still Appropriate

Use of “mental health” is still appropriate when referring to clinical services regulated by state or federal law, such as campus counseling centers, partnerships with licensed providers, or compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It remains acceptable in research contexts, particularly in psychology, psychiatry, or public health. The term also carries weight when discussing documented trends in depression or suicide among college students, provided it is presented in apolitical language focused on safety and support.

Notes:

Avoid pairing “mental health” with terms like “identity-based trauma,” “systemic oppression,” or “social justice” in public materials. Emphasize individual responsibility, self-care, and access to clinical services rather than group-based interventions. Where possible, tie usage to state-aligned language on safety, crisis prevention, or academic success.