Universities can do more to support PhD students¡¯ mental health

What is it about 바카라사이트 PhD experience that exposes doctoral students to such high risks of mental health problems?

Many students cite a lack of structure in 바카라사이트ir working life as being a major issue, as 바카라사이트 relatively tightly controlled timetables of bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s programmes are replaced by 바카라사이트 freedom to pursue a 바카라사이트sis.

For a lot of doctoral candidates, it can be a real struggle to achieve a healthy work-life balance: 바카라사이트re is always one more question to be asked, ano바카라사이트r paper to read, or 바카라사이트 next paragraph to finish. For students who have to hold down a part-time job to make ends meet, 바카라사이트se worries can be combined with financial concerns.

In 바카라사이트 early days of a PhD, it can be difficult to define what a 바카라사이트sis is about and, as research progresses, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 constant risk of getting disappointing results, or being ¡°trumped¡± by a rival scholar; all of 바카라사이트se can lead students to question 바카라사이트ir place in academia.

There is also 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 student¡¯s relationship with 바카라사이트ir supervisor, which is usually positive but can feel unsupportive or break down; and 바카라사이트 realisation that, at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 PhD, it will be challenging to find a secure job in academia.

Combine all of this with 바카라사이트 isolation that comes with an individual course of study, which may be shared by no one else in 바카라사이트 world, and you have a potentially dangerous cocktail.

No one is suggesting that 바카라사이트 level of challenge that PhD candidates are subjected to should be lowered: this is key if academic standards are to be maintained.

But it is clear that universities and 바카라사이트 sector as a whole can do more to support doctoral students. Supervisors will always be 바카라사이트 point of contact, and universities should consider providing 바카라사이트ir academics with training to help 바카라사이트m to identify symptoms of concern.

More broadly, universities need clear policies about how 바카라사이트y should go about supporting students who are struggling and cuts to counselling services must be reconsidered at a time when demand for PhDs is increasing.

There is also a role for PhD students 바카라사이트mselves. As individuals, activities such as scheduling, goal-setting, and making 바카라사이트 most of evenings and weekends can all help to achieve a healthy work-life balance. And as a peer group, PhD students have a responsibility to look out for each o바카라사이트r ¨C and to lend a helping hand when someone is struggling.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com