From Theory to Practice: Conversations for Wellness—Graduate and Professional Student Mental Health
While there is often stigma around seeking mental health services, most people struggle with maintaining mental well-being at some point in their life. This often becomes more challenging depending on our environment and identities. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four college students have a diagnosable mental illness, with depression being the most common. Furthermore, the prevalence and severity of symptoms is dependent on education, race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. A University of Michigan study showed that half of all graduate students are experiencing psychological distress, with a higher prevalence of mental-health problems than the general highly educated population. Black men experience worse mental health outcomes than any other racial group of men and are also less likely to seek mental health services. Members of the LGBTQI are two to four times more likely to experience a mental health issue. As we all have many identities that contribute to how we perceive and navigate mental health, this mental health mini-series serves to highlight research and foster constructive conversations around identifying signs of mental illness, understanding how our identities impact our mental health, and maintaining mental well-being.