So I received this DM today (shared anon with permission, because I think this is something I want to discuss publicly).

Honestly, it doesn't matter of some students "lie" about their mental health, or deaths in the family. We must believe them. 1/ DM saying Heya, I realise you’re all big and famous now anDM continued which sets the tone that if you use the buzz wo
If a student feels the need to lie like this they ARE struggling. Maybe they are working 3 jobs to make ends meet and can't hit deadlines, maybe they are neurodiverse and struggling, maybe their mental health is impacted but from our perspective we just can't see it. 2/
Perhaps more students coming forward and disclosing mental health concerns is because they've always been there but are only now getting the confidence to speak out about it. /3
We must believe students opening up to us. We owe that to them. They aren't going to be gaining a huge advantage if they are lying, but for those that DO need our help they need to know we believe them. It can make all the difference. Let's lead with trust and compassion. 4/4

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More from @ZJAyres

7 Aug
Types of academics you might encounter, based on Disney characters, a thread:

#AcademicChatter #phdchat
The "my academic picture was taken in the 90s" academic.

You go to meet them, you've looked up what they look like, you realise their photo on the university website hasn't been updated in 200 years. They know their stuff, and are a solid 7/10. Photo of the evil Queen from Snow White showing her young se
The "Definitely got your back, what a Belle" academic.

Great mentor, always got your best interests at heart. Probably knee deep in diversity and inclusion initiatives and not getting enough credit for it. Alway makes you go back and read the literature. 11/10. Picture of Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Read 10 tweets
20 Jul
How can universities support graduate/PhD mental health? Here's some thoughts on what institutions can work towards today 👇#AcademicMentalHealth #AcademicChatter
1 - Acknowledge that the research culture plays a role 🏛️

The onus to improve mental health isn't just on the individual. It's time to acknowledge that the stressors at university impact grad students.
2 - Train PIs 🧑‍🏫

Promoted to positions of power based on research capabilities PIs often haven't been trained in mental health, like even for 2 hours. Providing basic training can help.
Read 11 tweets
17 Apr
Why did I leave academia? It's complex. It's 100% related to the culture of academia that I felt I couldn't stay. So here's a thread on why, particularly as a woman, with depression, I had to leave, despite having a good track record and designs on being a prof one day. 1/
The precarity of contracts. Honestly, the rolling from one contract to the next was crushing. Not knowing if I'd be jobless in a few months was too much. Combine that with my anxiety, and it was debilitating. I've since got a permanent job in industry. 2/
The culture of overwork. Feeling like I had to be constantly "on" all the time, and if I wasn't it was valuable time I could have been working on a paper to get ahead. Again with my depression (and quite frankly anyone else with or without depression) burnout was not my friend.3/
Read 10 tweets
1 Apr
Here's a thread breakdown of the recent @RoySocChem diversity data report 2020 as it pertains to ethnicity. Please go check out the full report.

Evidence is there that systemic racism exists in the chemical sciences. We need to do more for equity. Here's some of the report: 1/
Note: This is not a thread condemning the RSC but pointing to systemic racism throughout Chemistry as a whole. I want to commend the RSC by leading with a "data first" approach, because having a starting point is the only way we can enact change. There is a long way to go. 2/
All figures in this thread belong to the @RoySocChem report (link at the end of the thread). For this thread I've focused on the data for Black chemists to raise awareness. 3/
Read 10 tweets
1 Feb
Launching #100voices (Part 2)!

100 researchers, 100 #mentalhealth journeys over 100 days. Let's get the conversation started around mental health, exploring what peers, friends, and ourselves so often experience.

You are not alone. 🤝 #AcademicMentalHealth #AcademicChatter
We are going to discuss a range of different mental health experiences and show we can and do exist (and thrive) with mental illness, mood disorders, and mental health concerns in research environments. By talking we help break the stigma and create a safer space for all.
Please note, if you find this campaign triggering for yourself, rather than helpful, I will be taking care to post all posts using the #100Voices hashtag, enabling you to mute #100Voices in order to help you protect you if needed.
Read 67 tweets
28 Jan
PhD students often come to me with concerns they don't have skills for jobs outside of academia. You *absolutely* do. So here's a non-extensive (STEM-oriented) thread of some of them to remind you why you are highly employable 🧵: 1/

#AcademicChatter #phdchat
Project management 📝- every day you manage a huge research project. Yes you have help and guidance, but a lot of that guidance is driven by you - particularly as you reach the end of your PhD. This means you have the tools to manage other projects too. 2/
Resource allocation 👨‍🔬- Throughout your PhD you might order chemicals/samples. You will have a budget and have to consider this when purchasing. You liaise with senior staff for approval of purchases, thus you start to understand financial management of projects. 3/
Read 10 tweets

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