A blueprint for measuring and improving graduate student mental health

Abstract

Objective

We provide a step-by-step guide for developing, administering, evaluating, and acting on a survey-based study of graduate student mental health. Methods: Blueprint focuses on forging student-faculty collaboration and is based on Harvard University’s Graduate Student Mental Health Initiative (GSMHI). The survey tool we use includes validated screening instruments for depression, anxiety, imposter phenomenon, self-esteem, alcohol consumption, exercise and sleep habits, and loneliness. It also includes environmental questions that collect epidemiologic data, as well as ratings of advising relationships and student dynamics. Results: After 6 years, GSMHI has analyzed data from 30 different PhD programs and 4,866 students, overseen the implementation of more than 60 departmental action plans, and performed 9 follow-up surveys to assess progress. It has achieved high response rates (60–90%), discovered wide variation in mental health and environmental factors across departments, and supported experiments with interventions. Conclusion: We hope this blueprint helps other universities run similar initiatives.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2057804 .

Keywords:

• Campus mental health
• graduate students
• mental health services
• mental health survey

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank Karen Pearce, Christine Huang, Lisa Mincieli, and the Harvard College Institutional Research office; Giang Nguyen, Barbara Lewis, and Harvard University Health Services; Alan Garber and the Office of the Provost; Emma Dench and the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; and the many faculty and graduate students who have worked together in good faith throughout the initiative.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. None of the authors have a financial interest or benefit from the direct applications of this research. The research presented in this article was reviewed by Harvard University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), but was determined to pose minimal risks and fell into the exempt category.

Notes

1 One of the authors, Paul Barreira, is the current GSMHI point-person. Having previously served as Director of HUHS, he has been able to build on the relationships he formed with administrators, faculty, and students over the years to form GSMHI partnerships. We recommend choosing a point-person for GSMHI-like initiatives who can build on a similar foundation of trust across the university.

2 This is the case throughout the different stages of the initiative. The will and the interest have to come from the bottom-up rather than from the top-down.

3 We have heard from working group participants that this work not only gives them purpose and satisfaction from doing good things for their community, but also helps them build the skills necessary to deliver concrete solutions on difficult issues with many stakeholders.

4 Findings from the initiative run at University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemistry also emphasize some of these areas for intervention, especially in social and community building and in improving the advising experience.¹⁴

5 These 39 surveys are made up of initial and follow-up surveys.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Harvard University.