Mental Health in Science
By Amanda Aber
Written on 4/27/22
There are many competitive career fields that may result in depression and anxiety, but STEM fields have increasingly become more competitive in the last few years, making depression and anxiety more prevalent. One in four adults will experience a mental health disorder in a given year. The odds of having mental health issues increases as a graduate student and in STEM fields. STEM environments can push people to encounter a crushing workload and lead to burnout. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s acknowledge the difficulties STEM students and professionals must endure to reach their goals.
As an Undergraduate
Studying STEM fields can be harsh on a student’s mental health. As an undergraduate, students have to take a range of difficult courses with never-ending assignments and countless hours of studying for exams. Ali, a Biology student at the University of Washington, expresses how some students will only get three hours of sleep a night “because there’s so much to do.” Students are forced to take on an unmanageable workload across multiple STEM classes. Students are afraid to ask for extensions for assignments even if they feel overwhelmed. STEM class culture suggests that students would not be given extra time if they asked for it, so students continue to struggle on their own.
There are also the concerns of exams. Ali describes STEM courses exams as “outrageous.” This can be due to difficulty of coursework, the gearing towards memorization, the inclusion of concepts not covered well in class, or testing students on keywords rather than concept mastery. Hannah, a Physiology student at the University of Washington, states that “all STEM majors have really bad test anxiety.” She would shake and have an elevated heart rate before taking an exam. Even students who feel they have mastered class topics may do poorly on tests due to the added pressure.
As a Graduate
Graduate students seem to be at the highest risk of mental health issues in STEM. Approximately 40 percent of graduate students in biological, physical sciences, or engineering reported moderate to high levels of anxiety and moderate to severe levels of depression while the general population reported about 6 percent. Majority of these students named education/school to be the main contributor for mental illness.
Not only is it academically straining on graduate students, but it is financially straining as well. Graduate students studying STEM fields have to complete academic research. This research is largely funded by the federal government, so researchers typically apply for grants from the federal government to fund their equipment, training, and access to laboratory facilities. The number of people applying for the grants is steadily increasing, while the funding for these grants have remained stagnant. Thus, the success rate for getting a grant has decreased for STEM students. This means funding for research would have to come from their own pockets. Having to worry about finances can cause a person to become discouraged and unmotivated.
Achieving a STEM degree and graduating does not mean the struggle stops. Recent STEM graduates are typically overworked and underpaid. Lower income is associated with mental disorders, so it is not surprising that the mental health of STEM professionals can take a hit. There is also job insecurity with recent graduates which can cause anxieties and loss of self-esteem as they try to find a stable job after finishing school.
What Can We Do?
Institutions need to address the mounting pressure they put on STEM students to succeed. Many schools have implemented mental health awareness campaigns or task forces to provide support and resources for students.
However, it is important for people in STEM to take responsibility for their own well-being. Look into healthy coping mechanisms. Make time for yourself to rest and enjoy interests outside of work and school. Reach out to friends, co-workers, supervisors, and counselors for support.
Mental health issues tend to be silenced or looked down upon in society, but mental illnesses are possible for anyone to experience. It is time to start the conversation on providing adequate support and understanding to those who may suffer a mental illness.
Citations
Athens science cafe. (2018, September 21). Mental wellness: Understanding the STEM graduate mental health crisis. Athens Science Observer. Retrieved April 27, 2022, from https://athensscienceobserver.com/2018/09/16/mental-wellness-understanding-the-stem-graduate-mental-health-crisis/
Karpoor, P. (2021, October 21). Mental Health & Women in STEM. All Together. Retrieved April 27, 2022, from https://alltogether.swe.org/2020/06/mental-health-women-in-stem/
Li, W. (2021, March 5). The Mental Health Crisis in Science. Science in the News. Retrieved April 27, 2022, from https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2021/the-mental-health-crisis-in-science/
Sutherland, A. (2021, November 17). ‘There is a huge crisis happening in STEM classes’. The Daily of the University of Washington. Retrieved April 27, 2022, from https://www.dailyuw.com/special_sections/disability_inclusion/there-is-a-huge-crisis-happening-in-stem-classes/article_fc535cb0-45ba-11ec-b66a-075424a21121.html
3 Key Phrases:
- STEM environments can push people to encounter a crushing workload and lead to burnout.
- Graduate students seem to be at the highest risk of mental health issues in STEM. Approximately 40 percent of graduate students in biological, physical sciences, or engineering reported moderate to high levels of anxiety and moderate to severe levels of depression while the general population reported about 6 percent. Majority of these students named education/school to be the main contributor for mental illness.
- Mental health issues tend to be silenced or looked down upon in society, but mental illnesses are pretty common for just about anyone to experience. It is time to start the conversation on providing adequate support and understanding to those who may suffer a mental illness.
Social Media Statement: It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, see how STEM affects the mental health of college students
Marketing Statement: This blog is targeted towards students who are considering entering a STEM field as a path of study or career. This encourages them to acknowledge that although STEM can be challenging, they are not alone in their struggles. This is also targeted toward friends and family to encourage them to provide support to their loved ones in STEM.
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- Photo by Daniel Reche from Pexels
- Photo by Dio Hasbi Saniskoro from Pexels
