Document Actions

Mental Health during the PhD

We are aware that pursuing a PhD is a particular challenge, which can have effects on your mental health as well as your social life. Anxiety about the future, procrastination, writer’s block etc. are – to a certain extent – ‘normal’ aspects of this challenge. However, they can also be the first signs or already serious symptoms of a mental health issue like depression or burnout. At the GCSC, we want to raise awareness of this and support you if needed. To this end, we offer regular workshops on on topics like resilience and stress management.

As a graduate centre, we cannot offer psychological counselling ourselves. Yet we know that, especially in exhausting and distressing periods, it can be difficult to go looking for help on your own. To make this step as easy as possible, this page lists support organisations and helplines that you can approach when necessary. Please do not hesitate to ask the relevant institutions whether they provide their service in English. If you need help getting in touch with any of them, you may contact Lena Nüchter at the GCSC.

Current Events

Jun 25, 2021
09:00 to 04:30

PK: Do Your Doctorate Goal-Oriented and Relaxed: Successful Doctorate with Resilience Training and Stress Management (Registration via StudIP)

Where to get help

At JLU
	Psychologische Beratung - AStA http://asta-giessen.de/service/psychologische-beratung/
	Stressbewältigung - FB 06 https://www.uni-giessen.de/fbz/fb06/psychologie/abt/psychologie/klinische/stressbewaeltigung
	Studiencoaching - ZfBK https://www.uni-giessen.de/fbz/zentren/zfbk/afk?set_language=de
	Zentrale Studienberatung https://www.uni-giessen.de/studium/beratung/zsb
In Gießen
	UKGM Gießen - Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie https://www.ukgm.de/ugm_2/deu/ugi_pso/index.html
	Vitos Klinik Gießen https://www.vitos.de/gesellschaften/vitos-giessen-marburg/einrichtungen/vitos-klinik-fuer-psychiatrie-und-psychotherapie-giessen crisis line: 0641 ‐ 4030
	Marburger Bündnis gegen Depression http://www.bündnis-gegen-depression-marburg.de/
Nationwide
	Deutsche Depressionshilfe https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/start
	Deutsche Depressionsliga https://www.depressionsliga.de
	Crisis line 0800 - 111 0 111

Readings/Further information

Wenn die Dissertation an der Psyche nagt. Interview mit Psychotherapeut Hans-Werner Rückert: https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/wenn-die-dissertation-an-der-psyche-nagt-471/

Burnout - Anzeichen erkennen und Strategien zur Vermeidung: https://www.academics.de/ratgeber/anzeichen-burnout-erkennen-vermeiden#subnav_nicht_gegen_sich_leben_-_strategien_gegen_burnout
Steiner, Verena: Energiekompetenz: Produktiver denken, wirkungsvoller arbeiten, entspannter leben. Zürich 2011.
Inspirieren, Freiräume lassen. Die Abhängigkeit von Doktorvater oder Doktormutter birgt Risiken – nicht zuletzt für die Psyche: https://www.duz.de/beitrag/!/id/489/inspirieren-freiraeume-lassen
Being proactive about mental health during your PhD: a very short guide: http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2017/05/08/being-proactive-about-mental-health-during-your-phd-a-very-short-guide/
The Mental Health Crisis in Academia: https://www.ecn-berlin.de/mental-health/the-mental-health-crisis-in-academi.html

Studies dealing with the subjext of PhD/academic work and research & depression/mental health problems

Katia Levecque, Frederik Anseel, Alain De Beuckelaer, Johan Van der Heyden, Lydia Gisle (2017): „Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students“, URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733317300422?via%3Dihub

Woolston, Chris: Graduate survey: A love–hurt relationship, in: Nature, 550, pp. 549–552, (26 October 2017), URL: https://figshare.com/articles/Nature_Graduate_Survey_2017/5480716

Susan Guthrie, Catherine Lichten, Janna van Belle, Sarah Ball, Anna Knack, Joanna Hofman: Understanding mental health in the research environment. A Rapid Evidence Assessment, 2017, URL: https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/topics/diversity-in-science/understanding-mental-health-in-the-research-environment.pdf
The Graduate Assembly - Graduate Student Happiness & Well-Being Report 2014, URL: http://ga.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/wellbeingreport_2014.pdf
Winefield, A. H., Gillespie, N., Stough, C., Dua, J., Hapuarachchi, J., & Boyd, C. (2003). Occupational stress in Australian university staff: Results from a national survey. International Journal of Stress Management, 10(1), 51-63, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1072-5245.10.1.51