AIBU to think she shouldn't say 'mental problems'?

[Gigi779]

I'm wondering if I'm being too sensitive to the wording here, but this was directed to a class of teenagers by the trainee in my class.

Looking at the background to a poem, she repeatedly referred to 'mental problems'.

I don't know if it's just me thinking that 'mental' as a description on its own is rude and it hints at this, as it isn't describing the condition of health.

I want to ask her to say 'mental health issues/disorder/condition' and acknowledge what she wanted to talk about are illnesses of the mind.

However, I have a number of points about her delivery and planning to feed back to her and I don't know whether this one will make it appear I am being overly picky!

You are quite right.
You're being far too sensitive
Unless she used words like nutter she was fine

Actually I would take issue with this.

There's too much casual stigma around mental health/mental illness and poor use of language does not help.

I think you are 100% right to pull her up on it. It’s dismissive and broad, like you said she should have addressed it properly and been informative. I don’t think you’re being picky at all.

To clarify, although I know other people with mental illness may feel differently, it would upset me to have someone refer to me as having "mental problems" rather than mental health problems.

It's a term that's been used in a pejorative way. Even if some people wouldn't be bothered I don't think it's fair to say those who are are being too "sensitive".

Just casually point out that using a phrase such as "mental health difficulties" would be more professional.

If she continues to use the original phrase after this, then raise it formally in feedback.

I don't understand why 'mental health difficulties' is better than 'mental problems'. Sure I would say the first phrase and not the second, especially in a professional context, but what is the actual difference? None. They mean the same thing. However, you are right that 'mental health difficulties' is a more socially acceptable phrase at the moment.

I get you, OP, it’s only one step away from ‘he’s mental’.

‘He had mental problems’ and ‘he had mental health problems’ are the same thing ffs.

Gos Because there's a connotation of "you're mental you!" when you ditch the 'health' part of it.

As someone who has had MH problems, I'd definitely prefer it to be referred to as 'MH problems'. 'Mental problems' may appear innocuous, but it's the sort of terminology used when I was young, usually in a derogative way.

Definitely a bit iffy by today's standards. Mental is not really used without the adjoining Health unless it's pejoratively.

I refer to myself as mental, having had depression in the past and anxiety currently, but if another person called me mental I might get annoyed. Sounds like double standards I know.

back problems.... neck problems... foot problems...
neah, I can't put in iffy box. It's the same as those, not inherently derogatory.

I think it sounds ok

Obviously there's a lot more stigma attatched to Mental problems than back problems

Saying he had mental problems isnt the same as saying he "was mental" but yes, menral health problems would be better. Sounds like she needs some introductory mental health training.

I think it's fine. She is referring to the area (mental) and difficulties. Mental Health has become the more common phrase recently, but mental problems isn't being derogatory.

Thanks for your perspectives. She wasn't deliberately being rude or trying to be derogatory, but it's useful to know others might react the way I did, and that's what I don't want to happen as a result of saying nothing.

Since she's there in a professional capacity, and has a wide audience who she will undoubtedly influence, I'm thinking she does need to know what's more acceptable, even if she (and others) might think it's a fine line.

Are you her supervisor or were observing her, and she's a trainee teacher ?

Either way, "mental problems" isn't acceptable use by a professional, it just isn't , the same way you can't say mentally deformed, handicapped, retarded, or mad as a box of frogs, or other similarly outdated use of language for other issues.

Language is important

The correct term currently is mental health problems and it evolves, so that will move on too.

Professionals use the latest acceptable terms. Yes pick her up on it, as it's potentially an anti -discriminatory issue that may contribute to a 'learning need' or fail if coupled with other discriminatory language.

Also as a trainee teacher, she needs to model sensitive use of language for pupils she teaches.

Well what was the poem
I mean you can’t make a judgment one way or the other unless you tell us what the poem is.

Ugh sorry I misread.
If She used that term to talk about a poem then yes it’s inappropriate

Not politically correct. I prefer to say mental ill health but mental health issues is fine. Mental problems does sound pejorative and there but for the grace of god go any of us.