Holding up a mirror: The mental health and well-being of academic psychologists

The profession of psychology aims to improve societal mental health and well-being. Ironically, psychologists have neglected the study of mental health within the profession. We conducted the first comprehensive assessment of mental health difficulties across psychology disciplines in a sample (N = 1,261) of faculty and graduate students affiliated with U.S. doctoral degree granting institutions. Over 84% of respondents reported a lifetime history of mental health difficulties; 54% reported a lifetime diagnosis; 15% had clinically elevated current depression symptoms; 16% reported clinically elevated current anxiety symptoms; and 51% met Keyes’ “flourishing” criteria. The most common mental health concerns were depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Across all outcomes, graduate students reported significantly greater frequency and severity of difficulties. Clinically elevated current depression and anxiety were 3-4 times higher in graduate students (21% and 22%, respectively) compared to professor-level faculty (6% and 7%, respectively). Rates of flourishing were lower in graduate students than faculty (OR = 2.65, p < .001). Clinical-area respondents (92%) were more likely to report a lifetime mental health difficulty than non-clinical area respondents (83%). Interestingly, while there were no field-level differences in rates of current elevated anxiety, clinical-area respondents had lower rates of clinically elevated depression. Academic psychology is not an exception to the mental health crisis in higher education. Particularly urgent action is needed to improve graduate students’ mental health. We discuss both systemic and practical recommendations for the profession of psychology.