The ivory tower of academia and how mental health is often neglected

Whether you are in the thick of graduate school or a tenured professor struggling to obtain the next grant, the truth is, academia operates in a culture of extreme competitiveness. I am certainly not the first person to make the ‘ivory tower’ metaphor when describing the academic environment. Even in the best departments, egos run unchecked and many are not held accountable for their actions on how they treat their students, colleagues and collaborators. Increasing competitiveness for grants and publications, the privatization of universities, a decline in tenured faculty positions, low pay and minimal benefits are just some of the stressors academics face [1]. With all of this, it is no wonder that mental health is a serious issue in academia and it is imperative that we talk honestly about how it is affecting the scientific enterprise.

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