Depression in Graduate School: What Can We Do About It
Recent research indicates worrisome prevalence rates of depression amongst graduate students- particularly graduate students in the humanities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this may be a problem in the philosophy department as well. Depression is known to impair the quality of life, as well as the professional outcomes (such as academic job market success rates) of those who suffer from it. Thus, it is important to talk about the different ways in which depression can impact one's life in graduate school, and various resources available for dealing with depression. I conclude with a few suggestions for ways in which the philosophy department as a whole can better address this problem. At a minimum, I believe that a department-wide increase in mental health awareness, as well as a reduction in the stigma associated with depression, can only lead to positive changes- both for individual students, and for the department as a whole.
