Mental health in isolation

The global pandemic has presented unique challenges for those involved in academia. One of the most affected groups are PhD students, a group that was already at higher risk of experiencing mental health issues. Studies have shown that compared to the general population, anxiety and depression is greatly increased among PhD students. One factor being that postgraduate education is vastly different from undergrad studies-less structured, less centralized, and less diverse. Students are expected to find their own way while maintaining their grades, conducting lab work, and reading and writing papers with very little time to take care of themselves emotionally and physically.

As a result, general wellbeing often takes a backseat when students are struggling to meet all the demands on their time and minds. PhD students in many universities find themselves missing opportunities to socialize within their age group as they did as undergrads, and missing the built-in community that undergraduate classes provide.

Many postgraduates are lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. This is felt even more by members of minority groups such as persons of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, international students, and so on. Also, postgraduate education introduces financial and housing challenges new to many students, especially first-generation scientists and immigrants. International students face added challenges such as contending with visa and language issues, as well as being separated from their traditional family and social support systems.

All of these challenges have been significantly worsened by the pandemic and required isolation measures. Studies show that young adults in the US have had worsened mental health outcomes during the pandemic as compared to the general population, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression. Similar trends were shown in a COVID-19 social study performed by University College of London (UCL). While being the most affected group by age when it comes to depression and anxiety, PhD students are also one of the most affected groups when sorted by occupation.

Disrupted schedule: Previously, students had some form of routine, even if it resulted in a poor work-life balance. Now, many labs have had to halt all work, resulting in students being unable to perform experiments necessary for degree completion. And yet for most, the PhD clock is still running. With no clear end in sight for the pandemic, many students worry that their funding will run out before the situation is rectified, and with no data produced from experiments, students cannot start working on their publications.

Reduced productivity: For PhD students, the motto "publish or perish" is especially true, since a lack of publications can negatively impact job prospects, leading to further financial insecurities and visa issues. Further compounding the struggles of international students, many governmental immigration centers have shut down, resulting in backlogs and delays. For students who have to renew their visas every three months, which has become nearly impossible, the stress can be insurmountable.

Increased pressure: "Publish or perish" impacts more than just future job prospects. Many senior researchers may think of this pandemic as a fantastic time for their students to write review papers. However, such an undertaking heaped on top of pandemic-induced stress and instability has led to many students feeling overwhelmed and anxious. Worry about their research, their health, and their families is all but burying them, and the added pressure of reading and processing an entire field worth of literature and writing a review could lead to a breakdown.

Lack of community: The wellbeing of first-year PhD students is especially at risk. They have just moved to a new location, and often live alone, so pandemic isolation measures can leave many in isolation bubbles without any form of social interaction to speak of. While many senior researchers have families to interact and spend time with, many young PhD students sit alone in their apartments, perhaps do not speak the local language, and have no place to seek comfort during lockdown.

Insufficient mental health care: Self-help mental health options are often limited or nonexistent, especially in places where even the topic of mental health issues is highly stigmatized. Access to professional help was challenging enough pre-pandemic. Isolation measures have caused some to postpone visits to a doctor, preventing them from getting the care they need. Unattended mental health issues can lead to an emergency, requiring hospitalization, which poses an extreme risk of being exposed to COVID-19.

In conclusion, many PhD students are struggling, unable to cope with unprecedented, untenable, and often unbearable conditions. While we acknowledge the stress this pandemic has caused senior researchers and faculty, at their career stage they generally have better-established coping mechanisms and systems in place for both mental health and financial stability. Focusing on PhD students who lack these mechanisms and systems is essential to ensure and support the future of academia as a whole.

Olga Vvedenskaya is a postdoctoral researcher in translational medicine based in Dresden, Germany, and an organizational team lead in Dragonfly Mental Health.

Ruchama Steinberg is a scientist, writer, and passionate mental health advocate based in Karmiel, Israel. She is currently the communications team lead at Dragonfly Mental Health.

Wendy Ingram is a mental health biomedical informatics researcher in Oakland, California. She is the cofounder and CEO of Dragonfly Mental Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating excellent mental health among academics worldwide.