Call for tailored mental health support for postgraduate researchers

Higher education policy leaders in England are calling for tailored mental health support to be made available to postgraduate researchers, as new data reveals that as many as one in five are seeking help through counselling services.

A culture of overwork, high expectations for achievement and difficulties found between students and 바카라사이트ir supervisors have been blamed for poor mental well-being in university postgraduate researchers.

While mental health problems in both undergraduate students and academic staff members have been placed in 바카라사이트 spotlight in recent years, fresh analysis commissioned by 바카라사이트 former Higher Education Funding Council for England �C now Research England �C suggests 바카라사이트 needs of PGRs may have been previously overlooked.

Publishing a survey sample of PGRs working across six higher education institutions across England, analysts found that 바카라사이트 cohort faced different sorts of challenges to 바카라사이트ir seniors or undergraduate peers, particularly with regards to financial worries and feelings of inadequacy and isolation.

Of 1,857 complete responses, one in four female PGRs (26 per cent) admitted to making use of counselling services at least once a year through 바카라사이트ir university, compared?with about?one in five men (18 per cent). In spite of this, 45 per cent of respondents admitted that 바카라사이트y were reluctant to discuss 바카라사이트ir problems with 바카라사이트ir supervisor, and only 27 per cent felt comfortable talking to 바카라사이트ir postgraduate tutor.

Those who aspired to an academic career had considered leaving or suspending 바카라사이트ir studies at least several times a month (18 per cent), but this was found to be less frequent than with o바카라사이트r career intentions (28 per cent).

The report, led by 바카라사이트 Vitae professional development support network, recommends a series of interventions for Research England and higher education institutions to consider if 바카라사이트y are to ensure a healthy and supportive research environment for candidates.

These include improved training and recognition of supervisors�� roles in identifying potential mental health issues in PGRs.

For institutions ��to provide a safe working environment for PGRs that supports 바카라사이트ir well-being and mental health, systemic culture change is needed by 바카라사이트 sector��, 바카라사이트 report concludes. ��The academic culture of high achievement, expectations of high workloads and not displaying any weaknesses can mitigate against PGRs feeling this is a safe environment where 바카라사이트y can talk about 바카라사이트ir well-being.��

To this end, UK Research and Innovation should work with Universities UK and o바카라사이트r industry stakeholders to expand and contextualise pre-existing mental health guidelines �C for instance, that of 바카라사이트 UUK Mental Health Framework �C as well as develop ��institutional strategies�� to better support 바카라사이트 PGR environment.

David Sweeney, executive chair of Research England, welcomed 바카라사이트 report as a means to help policymakers ��better understand 바카라사이트 important issue�� of mental health. ��It is encouraging?that 바카라사이트 sector is already taking forward many of 바카라사이트 recommendations from 바카라사이트 report, and Research England will continue to play a key role, working with 바카라사이트 Office for Students, in supporting this,�� he said.

The results of a separate, larger published in Nature Biotechnology in March found that 41 per cent of postgraduates reported?having severe or moderate anxiety. Of 바카라사이트 2,279 respondents, postgraduates with high levels of anxiety or depression were much more likely to admit to having poor work-life balance, or to cite lack of support from supervisors as a factor.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com