When I started graduate school at Texas A&M, the senior graduate student in the lab told me that, “...all grad students end up with mental health issues and see therapists. It’s completely normal.” I kind of chuckled because I didn’t foresee myself needing those services. I had a system that worked and a less than ideal previous experience that made me feel like I was better on my own. While in College Station, I was fine; but I experienced burnout while at UC Davis and found myself scrambling to steady myself while I was in the middle of a mental health crisis.

I previously wrote about catering to your full self in graduate school and I want to be sure to say that in addition to making the time to explore and cultivate your interests, it is equally important to take care of your mental wellbeing. Mental health is a buzzword that has, rightfully, taken the world by storm. We talk about resting and self-care days. Well, sometimes self-care isn’t taking a stroll in the park and a hot bubble bath. Sometimes, self-care is recognizing that how you’ve managed your mental health in the past is no longer working. Sometimes you notice your declining mental state is impacting your work and relationships. In those cases, catering to your full self includes identifying, asking, and accepting help from therapists, psychiatrists, and your support system.

However, mental health resources are not often discussed on graduate school interview weekends. There may be some mention of a student health center and counselors, but the realities of choosing an off-campus therapist or insurance referrals are not often at the center of recruitment activities. Also, students, for whatever reason, may not want to ask questions about mental health resources during an interview weekend. It is understandable; both the school and interviewees are presenting their best selves and while mental health is continuing to garner positive attention, mental illness still has a stigma attached to it.

Here are some questions about mental health resources to consider when choosing a school. Some of this information can be located through the campus’s student health and wellness website.

1. How do I go about finding a mental health professional?

2. How many mental health professionals are on campus?

3. How many mental health professionals are dedicated to graduate students only?

4. How many sessions does each student receive?

5. What is the process for referrals?

6. How many mental health professionals are available in the area that I would be comfortable seeing?

7. How accessible are these mental health professionals?

8. How often do you have to renew a referral?

9. What types of therapy is available in my network and covered by my insurance?

10. What is the yearly out-of-pocket maximum for my insurance? 

11. If I have to pay out of pocket, are there sliding scales available?

My hope is that people can utilize the mental health resources on campus for neutral support and that they never find themselves in a crisis. However, if that is not the case for you, then I hope you are able to receive all of the support you need and that you recognize that there is nothing wrong with choosing yourself, changing your mind, picking a new path, or slowly staying the course.