The doctoral population is facing a mental health crisis (Melián et al., 2023).

 

 A survey by the Student Experience in the Research University Consortium (between Berkeley and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities) – suggests that mental health in graduate students has worsened since the pandemic, a significant jump from 2019 to 2020 (Woolson, 2020).

 

Another survey conducted in the U.K. found similar results when they compared the rates of depression and anxiety between doctoral students and working professionals; rates were higher in the former group (Hazell, 2022). 

 

39% of students screened positive for anxiety – a higher rate in women.

32% of students screened positive for depression – no gender differences.

(Woolson, 2020)

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Signs of mental health were more prevalent in low-income students, Latina/o/x, and in the LGBTQ+ populations (Woolson, 2020).

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Doctoral programs promote a culture of overworking the student. Furthermore, students commonly believe that if you’re not experiencing impostor syndrome, you’re not working hard enough (Hazell, 2022).