Nationally, suicide is the third leading cause of death among people ages 15-24 and is the second leading cause of death for college students, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Graduate students are considered the most susceptible to stress and depression.
Fred Weiner, Ohio University Counseling and Psychological Services psychologist, said graduate students may not experience more stress than undergraduates as a whole but do, however, deal with unique causes of stress that many undergraduates may not have to encounter.
Graduate students are dealing with a much smaller margin for error
Weiner said. They are totally consumed by the pressures to succeed.
In an effort to help graduate students in crisis situations, the Grad Resources' National Graduate Student Crisis Line (1-877-GRADHLP) is joining with Kristin Brooks Hope Center's National Hopeline Network. The National Mental Health Association also plans to work with KBHC to update the network.
According to http://www.gradresources.org, Graduate Resources is a faith-based non-profit organization that serves the needs of graduate students at universities across the United States. They also offer free assistance and support through grad student orientation programs, seminars, support groups, online resources and articles.
Five years ago I heard about a male graduate student who committed suicide at Harvard University and I decided that there needed to be an immediate resource for crisis situations in the graduate community said Nick Repak, president and founder of National Graduate Student Crisis Line.
Repak said graduate students who feel stressed, depressed and isolated are not alone, and many are unaware of the resources that are available to them.
International Affairs Development Studies graduate student Collins Annin said handling his finances is a responsibility he did not have as an undergraduate.
As an undergrad all of my finances were taken care of through financial aid
now I feel it is more stressful trying to compensate
Annin said.
College of Education graduate student Leah Richards said the average graduate student is dealing with more responsibilities than the average undergraduate student that may cause more distressing situations.
I don't think the academics are more stressful or harder
Richards said. I just think that most graduate students are trying to take a practicum and do research and professional graduate assistantships on top of all of their course work
which are responsibilities that most undergraduates aren't dealing with.
International Affairs Latin American Studies graduate student Brian Straight said the approach that is taken to completing one's coursework is what differentiates the stress levels of graduate and undergraduate students.
Graduate students all want to get the best grades possible when dealing with their course work
while some undergrads are merely trying to get that degree
Straight said. The requirements and what's expected are a lot different.
17
