New article from University Affairs
University Affairs blogger and York University PhD student
Melonie Fullick suggests that there is a widespread growth in depression
amongst graduate students that is surrounded by “a thickly-oppressive
silence.” Fullick cites an intense workload, pressure to produce new and
valuable work, competition for full-time positions after graduation,
and personal issues as contributing factors for the growth in clinical
depression in the field. She points out the lack of information on PhD
attrition, and suggests that more statistics on why people drop out of
graduate studies would shed light on some of these mental health issues.
“I wonder how many students simply leave due to mental health and
related issues brought on or exacerbated by the psychological minefield
of the PhD process -- and how much of this is preventable,” writes
Fullick.
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