Mental Health in the Research Space

Mental Health in the Research Space

Victoria Gurol, Abby Williams​

Undergraduate interns for B-RAD lab at the University of Alabama

May was Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States and as students, mental health is no stranger to us. Throughout the global pandemic of COVID-19, adult mental health took a tremendous hit, especially among students whose learning and social atmosphere had been completely changed to an entirely virtual setting. According to a report done by the CDC in late June of 2020, 31% of adults reported an increase in anxiety and/or depression, 13% started or increased substance abuse, and 11% had reported serious suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately for university students, issues with mental health can be very prominent, especially as academia becomes more and more competitive.

Being in a high-pressure environment can affect daily life as a student and it is hard to find a balance among it all. While being involved in extracurriculars outside of your course load can be scary and overwhelming, it is also something that allows for you to branch out; socially and academically. Being a part of a research lab on campus is an amazing experience we undergraduate interns at the B-RAD lab are grateful to be able to be a part of. Running EEGs, collecting data, working with research participants and so many more valuable skills that will aid in whatever path we choose after college. What comes along with working in a research lab is extra hours outside of the classroom dedicated to different projects and tasks distributed throughout those working in the lab. An effective lab environment is a place where you feel comfortable with maintaining the level of work required, while also being able to focus on your schoolwork at the same time. In the B-RAD lab, we strive to set boundaries with everyone who works in the lab to evaluate how much work they are able to do at a comfortable level, when they are able to work, and which type of tasks and assignments they are most interested in. With these three things at play, interns are allowed to gauge balance within their academic lives to prevent overworking or burnout.

Outside of the lab and school in general, many interns enjoy different activities to improve and help keep up positive mental health. With deadlines, studying, and reading different research articles; putting time aside to do things that relieve stress and can genuinely make you happy is extremely important. Talking to other interns within the B-RAD lab, I was able to get some perspectives on different ways they manage their mental health. Ryan Barash, a rising senior who is majoring in Psychology and an intern for two research labs on campus, says that his key to avoiding anxiety is getting outside:

“I love going on hikes and exploring different trails in Tuscaloosa. It is nice to be able to observe nature and really clear my mind. I feel like the more I make time for my mental health, the better I am at working hard and focusing on schoolwork and in the lab.”

Victoria Ward, who is currently the B-RAD Lab Coordinator, also gave her words on balancing life and work. Victoria graduated from UA in spring 2021 with her B.A. in Psychology and Political Science. Here is what Victoria had to say about managing mental health:

​“As an undergrad, I was a full-time student with a part-time job and two research internships. Needless to say, life was busy! It wasn’t easy all the time, but I got through it by finding a balance and staying excited about my future. On the days I felt exhausted, I would tell myself “You need to do this thing so you can do the next thing.” Now that I am a recent graduate, I can truthfully say that the time-management skills I learned come in handy every day. It is important to remember to take time out of your week for self-reflection and decompression. Work may sometimes seem never-ending, but know that taking time to ensure you are not overstressed is a recipe for success!”