Jonathan Chou

Talk: Jonathan Chou
A crisis in academia: Let’s talk about student mental health
This talk shines a light on the “mental health crisis” in graduate programs, in academia, and in institutions of higher learning, in general. 41% of graduate students have moderate to severe anxiety, and 39% have moderate to severe depression. Students who belong to minoritized groups are especially at risk of developing significant mental health issues. Multiple factors, including work-life balance, mentorship relationships, and instances of bias or discrimination, have been shown to contribute to the disproportionate rates of psychiatric morbidity in graduate students. Drawing on the university mental health literature, this presentation invites participants to reflect on their own experiences in academia and to imagine alternative ways that graduate programs and academic institutions can play a role in supporting student mental health.