UK SBS Understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the UK PGR population

In recent years, research policy observers and academics have voiced concerns about the impact of current academic working conditions in universities on mental health . Despite an increasing awareness of stress and mental ill-health issues within academia, and a growing number of studies that now address this issue, there is a need for more empirical data on the prevalence of mental health problems and the organisational policies that are linked to them. In particular, there is limited data about the incidence of mental health issues amongst the postgraduate research (PGR) student population. HEFCE aims to develop and sustain a dynamic and internationally competitive research sector that makes a major contribution to economic prosperity, national wellbeing and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge. We support higher education institutions (HEIs) in training and developing researchers, with doctoral degrees forming a critical link in the supply chain for the UK's research base and knowledge-intensive economy. As such we wish to gather data on the mental health and wellbeing of the PGR student population to inform our understanding of mental health and wellbeing among PGR students in UK higher education institutions. We wish to gather qualitative evidence and quantitative data that will inform our knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the UK PGR population. The study should focus more strongly on the student interest rather than the economic consequences that arise as a result of this issue. This study will measure the mental health and wellbeing of PGR students - including those who disclose a diagnosed mental health condition and those who do not. It will look at the structure of research degree programmes (RDPs) and the broader higher education (HE) research culture to identify environmental factors that may cause mental distress or otherwise affect the student experience.