Table 3 Reasons why Ph.D. students concealed their depression from their faculty advisor

May be perceived or treated differently or in a negative way

Student describes they were afraid they would be perceived or treated negatively if their advisor knew of their depression. Students often report using their advisor’s prior behaviors to predict how they would react.

57%

Student 2: “I guess it's really just that idea of like, I don't want to be treated differently [because of my depression]. I don't want to be handled with kid gloves. I want to be able to say when I get through grad school that I got through it just like everybody else.”

Student 18: “I guess I really don't want [my faculty advisor] to see me as only someone [who has depression], or really see me through a lens of ‘oh my student is depressed.’ I don't want her to think that I am making any excuses.”

Is uncomfortable with depression

Student describes that they are personally uncomfortable sharing their depression with anyone.

38%

Student 44: “I think it was mostly that I didn't feel comfortable [revealing my depression] because I sometimes still don't feel comfortable sharing it with other people.”

Student 50: “I have always not felt super comfortable talking about [my depression] with people in general, and especially people that I work for.”

Perceives revealing to be unnecessary

Student did not think it was necessary to share their depression, often because they did not perceive it affected their work.

29%

Student 17: “I decided not to [reveal my depression] explicitly because I didn't think it was necessary. I think if something changed and I felt like it was affecting me a lot more and it would be helpful for [my faculty advisor] to know, then I would tell [my advisor].”

Student 27: “[My depression] has never been something that's really affected my ability to do things. So, it's never been something that was necessary to bring up.”

Perceives an identity, cultural, or age difference between themselves and their advisor

Student does not reveal because they worry that the faculty advisor’s identity, culture, or age would prevent them from understanding what the student is trying to explain about depression.

19%

Student 14: “[My faculty advisor] is in her late fifties, so she comes from a different generation. Even her response to different things makes me feel like she wouldn’t be able to respond [to my depression].”

Student 43: “So [my faculty advisor] will constantly remind me and other students that grad school is supposed to be the best time of your life. He just doesn't seem to understand why and how grad school would be very hard [on someone’s depression]. Because I guess for him, it was a very enjoyable stress-free experience.”

Perceives revealing to be inappropriate

Student perceives that it is inappropriate to reveal depression in a lab environment, often because of the assumption that emotion is not welcome in science.

14%

Student 39: “It's just [my faculty advisor’s] personality where emotional or personal problems don't necessarily have to interfere with your work.”

Student 14: "I came from a very competitive [graduate] program, and I think being kind to [your mental health] was not part of the culture. I remember telling someone I worked with [in my program] that I struggled with [depression] and they said, 'Oh, really? When we were young, I guess these things happened. And we just used to sort of get over it.' And I think that has stayed with me."