The chair of Memorial University's Board of Regents used troubling language to stifle a former student representative, says a local mental health advocate.

Mark Gruchy, president of the provincial chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, told On the Go he is concerned by the message Iris Petten was trying to send in shutting down Brittany Lennox's accusations of bullying.

"I've been fighting against that sort of thinking about mental health concerns for a long time," he said. "That is to say that people with mental health conditions can't speak and think for themselves, and in the vast, vast majority of circumstances, we can."

Petten denied the accusations of bullying on the St. John's Morning Show on Friday, and brought up Lennox's mental health in an interview with the Telegram.

While Lennox acknowledged struggles with mental health in a Facebook post, Gruchy said that is no reason for Petten to make judgements on her capacity while sitting at the boardroom table.

"To say that someone in this situation is 'fragile' is to presuppose that your position is reasonable and that they are having an unreasonable response to it," Gruchy said. "And you're using the fact they have a mental health concern to present yourself as being more reasonable."

Memorial University's board of regents has 30 members, most of whom are appointed. They sign an agreement not to disclose details of meetings. (CBC)

Lennox resigned from the board last week, citing incidents of bullying and harassment over the last several months. She said she was also "gaslighted" or made to doubt her own memory and perception of events.

Petten countered, saying the board fosters a healthy tension and said it is "unfortunate" Lennox feels that way.

Memorial president Gary Kachanoski had no comment on the matter when contacted by On the Go. Gerry Byrne, minister of advanced education, said he planned to meet with Lennox before speaking publicly.

The board of regents, which has 30 members, including four students — according to MUN's website — is responsible for the management, administration and control of property, revenue and business of the university.