Mental Health in Academia

Concerns about mental health in the research community have been growing in recent years. This series of articles explores avenues for change and gives a voice to those on the front lines such as PIs, early-career researchers and non-academic staff.

Collection

1. Mental Health in Academia: Shedding light on those who provide support

   Elsa Loissel

   An eLife survey explores the experiences of those in the research community who support colleagues struggling with their mental health.

2. Mental Health in Academia: A question of support

   Elsa Loissel

   Who helps junior researchers that go through difficult times?
3. 

   Being a Scientist: A monster of a disease

   Sahana Sitaraman

   When compulsions and obsessive thoughts took over her world, a graduate student found strength in her identity as a scientist.
4. 

   Mental Health in Academia: “No one likes to see friends suffering”

   A postdoctoral researcher discusses how past experiences shaped the daily support they provide in the lab.
5. 

   Mental Health in Academia: “I'm sure that sometimes I miss the signs”

   A lab manager discusses how to support lab members, especially during fieldwork.
6. 

   Mental Health in Academia: The unseen role of technicians

   Both undergraduate and postgraduate students with mental health issues often turn to technicians for wellbeing support.

7. Mental Health in Academia: Get online to support wellbeing of graduate students

   Liesl A Krause, Susanna L Harris

   Universities should use online resources to help graduate students who are struggling with their mental health to access appropriate support.

8. Mental Health in Academia: What about faculty?

   Hilal A Lashuel

   After two heart attacks in three years, an associate professor discusses the challenges of faculty life.
9. 

   Mental Health in Academia: How to enact change

   Postdoctoral fellow and activist Wendy Marie Ingram explains how she trains, educates and works with students and faculty to improve academic mental health.

10. COVID-19 and the Research Community: The challenges of lockdown for early-career researchers

    Nicola Byrom

    Thousands of UK doctoral students and early-career researchers shared the repercussions of lockdown on their work and wellbeing.

11. COVID-19 and the Research Community: Being vulnerable

    Jasper Elan Hunt

    Early-career researchers feel discouraged from exposing vulnerability even during a global crisis.

12. Mental Health in Academia: A survey of individuals who support researchers

    An eLife survey sheds light on the experiences of those in the academic community who help researchers struggling with their mental health.