Graduate school in normal times is a stressful experience for many. A study in 2018 found 39 percent of the respondents experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression. This compared to 6 percent of the general population.
These are not normal times–a two-year long pandemic with lockdowns, isolation, changing protocols on campuses and personal losses. Add divisive politics, racism, climate concerns, and war, and even the most optimistic among us have days we struggle. Another research study in mid-2020 at nine research universities found that the number with anxiety had risen by 50 percent.
If you think that is you, you are far from alone. In response, the Emerging Scholars Network and InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty Ministry in the South Central Region have joined efforts. We are hosting a national interactive webinar that will focus on cultivating good mental health in the graduate school setting. We will learn about:
- good practices of self-care
- the current state of mental health concerns on campus
- how to identify signs that either we or a friend are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression
- how to be a helpful friend and where and when to help someone find good professional care
We wanted a presenter who knows the campus and graduate students well. Broderick Leaks, PhD is director of counseling and mental health at USC Student Health and clinical associate professor of psychiatry and the behavioral sciences at Keck School of Medicine. In this video, he introduces himself and describes what he will be presenting at the webinar:
Please join us, invite your friends, or even host a watch party on April 25 at 8pm EDT. The webinar is free and you may register to obtain a weblink at: https://gfm.events.intervarsity.org/cultivatingmentalhealth
About the author:
The Emerging Scholars Network is always seeking opportunities to identify, encourage, and equip the next generation of Christian scholars to be a redeeming influence in the academy, church, and the world. As you have an announcement, a "call for papers", an event, a prayer request (e.g., campus, field, higher ed), a resource suggestion, a review, etc., which is in concord with our Kingdom of God endeavor, please send materials (marketing/sales material not accepted) for consideration to post via email or the ESN Writer Survey. Thank-you. To God be the glory!
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