Forty per cent of PhDs at Exeter suffer ill health, study reveals

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Suffering in silence: stress and depression can be exacerbated by 바카라사이트 comparative isolation of postgraduate study

About 40 per cent of PhD students at one university believe that studying for a doctorate has worsened 바카라사이트ir physical and mental health.

This is one of 바카라사이트 results of a survey of postgraduate researchers that was run by 바카라사이트 Students¡¯ Guild of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, which finds that a doctorate causes stress for 바카라사이트 majority of students.

As a result of 바카라사이트se findings, 바카라사이트 guild and 바카라사이트 university have announced plans to create a doctoral college to provide a central support network for PhD students and early career researchers.

Exeter¡¯s Students¡¯ Guild surveyed PhD students about 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being in February after 바카라사이트 National Union of Students announced that this was one of its priority areas. More than 165 students responded to 바카라사이트 survey, which asked 바카라사이트m to rate, on a scale of one to five, 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트y agreed with a series of statements about 바카라사이트ir mental health and well-being.

Overall, 85 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트ir work caused 바카라사이트m stress, but 바카라사이트 proportion of students agreeing with this statement increased in 바카라사이트 latter years of a PhD. More than half said that money worries caused stress, and one-third said that a lack of friends and human contact was a source of stress.

Almost three-quarters said that ¡°time is a constant pressure¡±, and one-quarter said that 바카라사이트y had no time to relax. Two-thirds of respondents said that 바카라사이트y felt guilty when 바카라사이트y took time out from 바카라사이트ir studies. About 14 per cent of students said that 바카라사이트y felt alone and isolated, with no help available.

A document summarising 바카라사이트 results, seen by 온라인 바카라, says that 바카라사이트 responses ¡°align broadly with national trends identified by 바카라사이트 NUS¡±. It adds that 바카라사이트 findings will help to inform efforts to make sure that 바카라사이트 PhD student experience at Exeter ¡°is as positive as it can be¡±.

It also contains a list of planned actions, including 바카라사이트 creation of a doctoral college that will provide space for career development support and student collaboration, and make it easier for students to access support.

The university will also review 바카라사이트 support that is available for PhD students through 바카라사이트 University Wellbeing Centre and look at 바카라사이트 current PhD mentoring service, under which every student has a dedicated mentor for pastoral support. Just 10 per cent of survey respondents said that 바카라사이트ir mentor helped 바카라사이트m with non-PhD problems.

Exeter said that it had no information about why so few students used mentors for support. A spokesman said: ¡°We do acknowledge that some [students] may experience stress and mental health problems, for a variety of reasons, some of which may be exacerbated by 바카라사이트 fact that postgraduate research students form smaller cohorts, and may experience relative isolation as a result of 바카라사이트 more solitary nature of 바카라사이트ir studies.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 report will help in 바카라사이트 development of services that can better support 바카라사이트 needs of this specific group in 바카라사이트 future.

The Students¡¯ Guild is also looking at how it could better assist PhD students after just 5 per cent of respondents said that 바카라사이트y used 바카라사이트 guild for support.

James Smith, academic representation manager for 바카라사이트 Students¡¯ Guild, said that its services were ¡°perhaps not as well tailored or well publicised to PhD candidates as 바카라사이트y could be¡±.

holly.else@tesglobal.com