A FACULTY PERSPECTIVE ON MENTAL HEALTH IN THE GEOSCIENCES

In 2022, 44% of students on college campuses experienced depression, 37% anxiety, and 15% seriously considered suicide but only 54% of students have utilized mental health services (Eisenberg et al., 2022). Furthermore, college students have poorer mental health than their peers, and female and gender minority students reported higher levels of anxiety and depression (Buizza et al., 2022). Heightened levels of anger, isolation, self-doubt, depression, discrimination, and fear of discrimination have negatively impacted racial-ethnic minorities and other underrepresented groups, especially on predominately white campuses (Jochman et al., 2019; Solorano et al., 2000). While it is easy to find studies on pre- and post-pandemic mental health in our colleges and universities, the data on mental health in the geosciences is scant. Here I provide a faculty perspective of the state of student mental health and challenges that both faculty and students are facing today. How do professors in the geosciences, with little to no training in psychology and educational practices, work with students as their first point of contact regarding mental health?