Doctoral Student Mental Health and the Utilization of Services: Review of the Healthy Minds Study

• In Event: Doctoral Students' Mental Health and Well-Being

Abstract

Doctoral students experience mental health concerns, while approximately 12% to 31% utilize support services such as counseling and prescription medication. Overall, one out of two students do not graduate. This quantitative correlational study explored the relationship between 5,568 doctoral students’ mental health status and the utilization of mental health services using data from the 2018-2019 Healthy Minds Study (HMS) data set. The findings include statistically significant relationships between students’ sense of belonging, GPA, relationship status and gender to an associated increase in mental health concerns with approximately 28% using services. Findings support that Institutions of Higher Education and doctoral program faculty could play a role in mitigating doctoral students’ mental health concerns.

Author

• Erin L. Elkins, Russell Sage College