Professors must support the mental health of trainees during the COVID-19 crisis

ABSTRACT

Even before COVID-19 hit, there was a mental health crisis in academia. A 2018 study, for instance, found that rates of anxiety and depression in graduate students were nearly six times greater than what’s seen in the general population. Now, the pressures that may lead to mental health challenges in academia are even more extreme. Many scientists are worried about their own health as well as that of their families. Some are anxious about their future job prospects. And nearly everyone has been adjusting to a new work situation—one that revolves around digital communication rather than face-to-face contact.