There's a mental health crisis in science.
Studies that collectively surveyed tens of thousands of researchers worldwide suggest that scientists’ mental-health struggles are a direct result of a toxic research culture.
41% of respondents reported moderate to severe anxiety and 39% had moderate to severe depression.
Those levels are six times greater than in the general population.
As always, it's exacerbated for members of under-represented groups which when it comes to science is pretty much everyone who's not a white man from a high-income country: women, non-binary individuals, people of colour, those from sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+) and students on low incomes...also senior researchers and scientists in different countries.
Read more:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01708-4?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
@kathhayhoe @DrWendyRocks I've been trying to say this for years. But, of course, just like so many in the #mentalhealth community have been trying to tell (bad) psychiatrists for years and years now, decades, this has all fallen on deaf ears. Bayard Rustin once said the last great fight for #civilrights will be for #LGBT. I have to wonder if he was wrong; if instead the last great fight for #equalrights will be for those with a #MentalIllness.
@self @kathhayhoe @DrWendyRocks
Interesting that the MET Police in London are to stop attending mental health callouts.
Metropolitan Police: Move to attend fewer mental health calls sparks alarm
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65741824
I can probably understand this decision as the police are not exactly there to sort people out who are in mental health crisis, what are they meant to do, put them in a police cell for a few hours, they can't do that without arresting them which could give people a criminal record, with associated consequences.
What is needed is far better investment in these mental health services, more staff, more beds, but there is a price to pay for that, either raise taxes or make cuts elsewhere.
@robcornelius @self @kathhayhoe @DrWendyRocks
Ah right, that makes sense.
@zleap @self @kathhayhoe @DrWendyRocks
You can voluntarily be put in a police cell. I have done it a few times to avoid driving / walking home after a good night out. The coppers said it was a sensible thing to do.
However if someone is in a crisis the law says that the police are needed if they are going to be sectioned. If the police are not there initially that is one more delay.