There is increasing evidence for a prevalence of mental health disorders in researchers globally, especially in early-career scientists (ECS). Geosciences are no exception, with a recent survey reporting high rates of anxiety, depression, burnout and panic attacks in marine ECS.These are often signs of deep-rooted systemic problems of the academic system.
Many facets, from high competitiveness, to publish-or-perish philosophy and precarious careers can lead to poor work-life balance and place additional stressors on researchers with underlying psychological conditions. Geoscientists also face additional mental stressors, for example challenging field work or climate grief. Hostile working environments, abuse of power, sexism and discrimination further exacerbate the complexity and intersectionality of these issues leading to unwelcoming and toxic environments. Depression and anxiety are more prevalent in women and transgender researchers. The mental health crisis in the geosciences thus intersects with the lack of diversity in academia and low prioritisation of equality and inclusion. In spite of being a widespread issue, mental health is seldom present in the discourse about EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in academia. Very few researchers feel safe to speak openly about mental disorders or chronic illness due to fears about future career perspectives, or lack of understanding and judgement by peers.
Here we want to discuss the challenges and opportunities in opening the discourse on mental health and wellbeing in the geosciences. How do lack of awareness, misperceptions and stigma on mental illness shape our current working environments? How do stressors change across the different career stages? And what are those specific to geosciences? How much is this crisis caused by a lack of diversity in academia and how might this lack of representation in turn fuel this crisis because of increased attrition rates among under-represented groups? Can a more positive and inclusive academic environment contribute to stopping the decline in disruptive and innovative research and promote EDI in the geosciences?
We will invite experts in mental illness and stigma research, and colleagues who will share their stories, challenges and success stories in dealing with and overcoming stigma in their workplace. With this, we aim to stimulate a broad discussion to identify needs, best practices and ways forward for a more humane geosciences research community.


All opinions, statements, and questions, either from the panel or the audience, are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), our conference organizer Copernicus or the Austria Center Vienna, but have been shared here in the name of supporting open, transparent, and unedited discussion on this topic.