A recent study revealed that 67 percent of graduate students at the University of California at Berkeley had "felt hopeless at least one in the last year," while 54 percent felt "so depressed they had a hard time functioning" and 10 percent had considered suicide.
The study, sponsored by the American College Health Association, raises questions about the mental health of those dealing with the rigors of graduate school and what, if any, resources are available.
According to Dr. Robert Portnoy, director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's University Health Center and chair-elect of ACHA, UNL participated in the same study.
For students in general, the numbers for UNL closely corresponded to UC-Berkeley's, Portnoy wrote in an e-mail.
Although specific figures for UNL graduate students are unavailable, Portnoy said he expects the figures would be "unfortunately similar to those at UC Berkeley."
The main factors contributing to graduate students' stress are financial concerns, social isolation and the pressure of competition are the primary culprits haunting grad students.
And, perhaps surprisingly, graduate students are more at risk for depression and suicide simply because they're older than undergraduates.
"In the U.S., suicide rates increase with age," said Wylie Tene, public relations manager for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "The common misconception is that teens and young adults are at highest risk (of suicide), when, in fact, the rates increase with age."
When it comes to financial troubles, graduates often live from stipend check to stipend check.
"Graduate students tend to be in worse shape economically; many have no insurance, and they are consequently ‘living on the edge,'' Portnoy said. "It does not take nearly as much to tip the scales to full-blown crisis, which can lead to depression."
Nick Repak, founder of the National Graduate Student Crisis Line at GradResources.com, said many of the students whom he counsels suffer from adversarial relationships with faculty advisers.
"Being able to successfully defend (your work) in front of a committee, that can become difficult when someone on your committee doesn't want to see you pass," he said. "That challenge alone can just devastate a person."
Because of the competitive nature of grad school, most grad students don't seek help.
"Grad students fear weakness being known in their department," Repak said.
Furthermore, the intensity and narrow focus of graduate work often leads to social isolation as students spend their hours teaching, prepping for classes or doing classwork.
Among graduate students, medical, dental, engineering and math students run the greatest risk of depression, Portnoy said.
"The hard sciences tend to attract some of the more socially isolated individuals, which, in turn, renders people more vulnerable to depression," he said.
To maintain balance, grad students need to concentrate on their basic health and social needs.
"Time management, good sleep, hygiene, exercise, healthy diet and supportive relationships are the keys," Portnoy said.
It's also crucial that students balance academic commitments and "pleasurable, restorative activities," such as spending time with friends, he said.
"There's an acronym in psychology, ‘ARISE,' that refers to ‘adaptive regression in the service of the ego,'" Portnoy said. "What this term suggests is that one needs to play as well as to work in order to function effectively."
Another option is an online support group. GradResources.com offers an innovative online mentoring program designed to give grad students needed support.
In many cases, such as that of We"Suchitra," a participant in Repak's e-mentoring program, a little encouragement goes a long way.
"She was struggling with her program; she needed some extra encouragement, so we connected her with one of our e-mentors who walked through some of the struggles she faced," Repak said. "She probably corresponded a dozen times with George."
"He was always there when I needed suggestions and was very prompt, too," Suchitra said on the Grad Resources Web site. "He never gave up on me like the others."
If a friend's depression persists and leads to such behavior as increased drug and alcohol use, disregard for appearance and expressing feelings of hopelessness, then it may be time to encourage him or her to call a suicide prevention line, experts said.
"If you think a friend is in need, encourage them to go to the counseling center," Tene said. "Go with them for further support."
He encouraged any person expressing suicidal thoughts to call the national crisis line 800-273-TALK. Friends can also call.
Finally, it's important to remember that the pressures of grad school don't last forever, Repak said.
"The pressures of graduate school do not reflect a student's success potential," he said. "The pressures are exaggerated at certain phases. If they can get help at these phases (and) get over that hump, then most students will make it."
Study: Stress hits graduate students particularly hard
Survey finds many feel hopeless, consider suicide
Published: Monday, March 9, 2009
Updated: Monday, March 9, 2009 00:03
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15 comments
I have been so upset and depressed the past two weeks that I am finding it difficult to function in day to day life....just feel hopeless and like my life is falling apart. This just sucks so much. I am sitting here crying in my office right now.
I fHATE my life right now. I HATE IT!
just my thoughts....