Brilliant but Burned Out. Mental Health, Precarity, and the Future of Research

Mental health among early-career researchers is a growing concern. Numerous studies show that PhD candidates are at high risk of developing issues such as depression, anxiety, and burnout (e.g., Mattijssen et al., 2021). Common causes include excessive workload, high expectations, lack of work-life balance, and deep uncertainty about the future (Levecque, 2018). Despite growing awareness, practical prevention strategies and structural support remain limited (Satinsky et al., 2021).
Although research and innovation are essential to societal progress, the role of the researcher remains deeply precarious. Many projects lack stable funding, and budget cuts in research and development undermine the sovereignty and independence of academic work. Researchers face pressure from the “publish or perish” culture, limited career prospects, high mobility demands, and systemic undervaluation of their contributions — all contributing to psychological distress.
This presentation aims to:
1) Raise mental health awareness among PhD students, researchers, and higher education leaders;
2) Reflect on the working conditions in academia, including job insecurity, lack of funding, and performance pressures;
3) Encourage discussion about shared responsibility and identify actions that policymakers, institutions, and researchers themselves can take to improve working conditions and well-being.
In line with the EMHW 2025 theme “Care for mental health, invest in social rights,” this session highlights how fair employment, recognition, and stable conditions are essential for protecting researchers’ mental health and sustaining the future of academic work.