The Mental Well-Being of Graduate Students in Canada: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Objective: To review the literature exploring the mental health of graduate students in Canada. Data Source: Articles identified in EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Medline, Sociological Abstracts, Nursing and Allied Health, and ERIC.Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:Two independent reviewers screened articles that: (1) focused on graduate students' mental wellbeing; (2) used empirical study designs (3) were published in English; (4) were conducted in Canada.Data Extraction: Twenty-two articles met the inclusion criteria. Data was extracted on the following variables: author(s); year of publication; study design; methodology; clinical characteristics of participants; number of participants; demographic characteristics of participants, journal discipline and university.Data Synthesis: We used Dedoose, a qualitative data management program, to perform qualitative content analysis and characterize the data and identify emerging themes.Results: The content analysis led to three related themes from the included studies: Determinants of mental health in graduate students are myriad; 2) Coping Strategies for Graduate Student Stress; and 3) Bridging Support: Enhancing Mental Well-Being.Conclusion: Our study's findings highlight the significance of investigating the mental well-being of graduate students in Canada. This review showed that by promoting mental well-being, universities and institutions can create a supportive atmosphere that encourages open dialogue, provides access to counseling and other mental health resources, and implements strategies to mitigate the challenges faced by graduate students.