All is not well with Canada’s postdoctoral scholars: current challenges and solutions for researcher well-being

Canadian researchers are facing a mental health crisis. A staggering 79% of Canada’s postdoctoral scholars – or “postdocs,” professional researchers who already hold a PhD –  experience mental health challenges (Sparling, 2023). This data comes from the 2020 National Postdoctoral Survey conducted by the Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars (CAPS). This survey collected data from September 2019 to March 2020 before the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic which undoubtedly caused a decline in mental health for many that year. Other recent studies show that Canada’s mental health crisis among researchers is part of a disturbing global trend. Swedish PhD students have a 40% increase in the need for mental health medication towards the end of their PhD program (Bergvall 2024, and in Nature News: Schwaller 2024). In Germany, cases of moderate to severe clinical depression were three times higher among postdocs than the general population (Russell 2023). Researcher mental health is a problem that we need to take seriously and address immediately to protect the wellbeing of our research ecosystem and innovation economy in Canada and beyond.

At CAPS, we know that we cannot consider postdoc wellbeing in isolation from other pressing challenges. Both postdoc employment standards (employee status, contract length, salary, and benefits) and career paths are highly precarious and variable in nature. Postdocs frequently relocate far from their support structures for temporary and low paying jobs, often resulting in an isolating work environment that is challenging for mental health.

The precarity associated with early research career stages poses a threat to the diversity of our research workforce by filtering out qualified researchers who may have less access to resources needed to face the challenges associated with uncertainty. Our data highlighted many concerning gender disparities both in career development and in experiences of mental health challenges and barriers and harassment.

Of the 79% of postdocs reporting mental health challenges, the most commonly reported types of experiences include: feeling overwhelmed by tasks (49%), loneliness (38%), and anxiety or panic attacks (35%). Most types of mental health challenges had significantly increased in prevalence between 2016 to 2020. CAPS is very concerned that this trend has continued to increase unchecked since the 2020 Survey. Major barriers to seeking treatment included lack of insurance, lack of time, lack of knowledge regarding options for help, and stigma or fear of others finding out. To address these issues, postdocs want institutions to provide free or subsidized mental health services and to improve stress management for researchers.

In addition to poor mental health, we were disturbed by a high prevalence of harassment and discrimination. Nearly one third (32%) of Canadian postdocs reported experiencing instances of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. The types of harmful behaviours reported mainly included being ignored, excluded, humiliated, and abused verbally. Postdocs cited their research field, lack of experience, and personal characteristics such as gender identity or expression and place of origin as reasons for the harassment.

Instances of harmful workplace behaviour directed at postdocs were largely unreported: 71% of postdocs did not report their harassment. Common reasons for not reporting included the assumption that their experience was common or minor, concerns that reporting would hurt their career advancement, and being unsure if an action would officially be considered as harassment or discrimination. To improve workplace safety, postdocs want institutions to provide clear guidelines and procedures for reporting harassment. CAPS also recommends that research funding organizations implement guidelines and expectations of conduct similar to the programs in place at the National Science Foundation in the US (https://new.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment).

Regarding postdocs that do not report harassment for the sake of their career: postdocs often face extreme power imbalances and have very little margin for error. With short contracts, highly specialized work, and age limits on funding sources, postdocs are generally unable to move away from bad situations without a severe setback to their career advancement. Postdocs often work in isolated settings beholden to one supervisor whose letter of recommendation is all but required for their next job. For the 40% of postdocs in Canada holding temporary work permits which tie them to their employer, this situation is even more precarious. We ask that institutions, research funding agencies, and immigration policies do better to protect the safety and career advancement of postdocs who experience harmful workplace behaviour.

Together, high prevalences of mental health challenges and harassment point to systemic failures to support postdoctoral well-being and professional development. The broader context of this emerging mental health crisis is a postdoc experience characterized by uncertainty, precarity, and an extreme range of policies across provinces and research institutions. To improve the success and well-being of Canada’s research community, we offer the following recommendations:

Recommendation #1. Treat the symptoms. Ensure that postdocs have access to the resources they need to support their mental health and to respond to instances of harassment. Postdocs should receive extended benefits that include mental health support, and research group leaders should encourage and normalize the use of available resources. No one should feel that they do not have the time or that they will be stigmatized for prioritizing their mental health.

Recommendation #2. Build immunity. Work to improve the research system and culture of research to provide safe work environments for all researchers. Individual researchers can take actions: be a champion for mental health and safety and firmly support colleagues to do the same. Institutions and funders can adopt zero-tolerance policies for harassment and bullying with clear guidelines and procedures for reporting. 

Postdocs represent the future of the academic workforce. In the ideal, postdoc positions provide opportunities for researchers to develop their own research program and grow as independent researchers. This ideal cannot be realized when the large majority of postdocs are experiencing severe mental health struggles. We must work to ensure postdocs have the needed resources and reduce the prevalence of mental health struggles. Only by taking sincere actions can we ensure the next generation of researchers in Canada are well positioned to succeed in their work.

References: 

Bergvall S, Fernström C, Ranehill E, and Sandberg A. (June 25, 2024).The Impact of PhD Studies on Mental Health-A Longitudinal Population Study Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4920527

Schwaller F. (October 1, 2024) The huge toll of PhDs on mental health: data reveal stark effects. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03136-4

Russell NJ, Schaare HL, Bellón LB, Dang Y, Feldmeier-Krause A, Meemken M-T, et al. (2023). Max Planck PostdocNet Survey Report 2022. doi:10.17617/2.3507886. https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000D-0EFE-7 

Sparling JS, Griffiths E, Grasedieck S, Madadian E, Gibb C. (2023). The 2020 Canadian National Postdoctoral Survey Report. Canadian Association of Postdoctoral Scholars.

Available in English and French at: https://capsacpp.ca/en/resources/publications/surveys/