Call to boost mental health of young talent

Sweden must invest in early-career research to reduce stress, unions say

Sweden should offer more support to doctoral students, especially those suffering mental health issues, according to the country’s university teacher and researcher trade union SULF.

In an open letter published on the website Universitetsläraren, Michal Budryk, a researcher at Uppsala university, said that young researchers are struggling to deal with isolation during the coronavirus crisis. But, he added, mental health problems have always affected doctoral students who suffer the combined pressures of examination, funding shortages and career uncertainty.