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Articles by Sarah Lade

Sarah Lade is a doctoral student in McMaster University’s Clinician-Resesarcher Trainee program, located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Her primary research focus is into the underlying causes of severe Music Performance Anxiety in elite musicians. Her PhD work explores this issue from four different perspectives (cognitive, behavioural, physiological, and neurological) in a developmental trajectory design. Sarah’s clinical focus is in developmental psychology, specifically with children under the age of 13 years old. She is interested in anxiety and mood disorder work within this population. A strong advocate for mental health awareness and accessibility, Sarah sits on several student boards support McMaster University’s mental health initiatives. Outside of her schooling, Sarah is an avid musician, and plays the piano for pleasure, as well as teaching it to children.

What’s Stopping Grad Students From Getting Mental Health Treatment?

What’s Stopping Grad Students From Getting Mental Health Treatment?

by | Dec 19, 2016 | Lifehacks, Tips & Advice, Self-Care, Student & Intern Resources

Graduate students face unique pressures as a part of the typical doctoral experience, including isolation in projects of indeterminate length, disproportionately little pay for excessive amounts of time and effort, and supervisory relationships that can result in the success or failure of a graduate degree.

Graduate students also bear the increased responsibilities of adulthood, such as copious amounts of debt from student loans, providing spousal and/or family support, and the foreknowledge of an uncertain career trajectory following graduation.

Graduate students suffer high rates of mental health issues. A survey of graduate students at the University of California revealed that approximately 50% of graduate students suffer from some form of mental illness [1]. Up to 87% of graduate students report feelings of anxiety, 68% feelings of depression, and up to 19% of cases report suicidal ideation [2].

Even students without clinically significant levels of depression or anxiety experience symptoms that hinder their work and quality of life.