YPA Survey - Mental Health

On December 8th, 2020, the Yale Postdoctoral Association launched a mental health survey. 150 postdocs participated in the survey.

Mental Health Survey

Nour Al-muhtasib, Michelle Song, Advocacy Committee

PDF version of the report available here . 



 

 

Details of the mental health survey

  • Sent out to PDs on Dec 8th 2020
  • 150 total respondents
    • ~12% of all postdocs at Yale responded to the survey (using a population of 1,228 PDs as of Aug)

General Demographics

Mental Health Survey: General Demographics

Caretaking Responsibility

Mental Health Survey: Caretaker Responsibilities

Research

Mental Health Survey: Research
Mental Health Survey: Research
Mental Health Survey: Research

Work Environment & Safety

Mental Health Survey: Work Environment & Safety
Mental Health Survey: Work Environment & Safety

Work Environment & Habits

Mental Health Survey: Work Environment & Habits
Mental Health Survey: Work Environment & Habits

Mental Health

Mental Health Survey: Mental Health
Mental Health Survey: Mental Health
Mental Health Survey: Mental Health
Mental Health Survey: Word cloud

Word cloud concerns

Concerns raised in comments

Concerns:

  • Several concerns about childcare and it’s effect on productivity
  • Concerns about productivity, the job market, retaining current position (contract extensions or funding)
  • Work/life balance issues
  • Isolation
  • Travel and VISA issues

Suggestions: 

  • Flexibility from PIs about productivity
  • Support from Yale and from PIs (can come in many forms from administrative and departmental levels to monetary support via funding)
  • Recognition – PDs want to feel seen by the university and PIs
  • More childcare resources
  • Job security – contract extensions and/or funding extensions
  • Understanding from PIs that these are unusual times and that productivity cannot be similar to pre-pandemic times
  • PIs must allow for work/life balance must be maintained for PD mental health
  • PIs should check in with their lab for more than just data updates

Suggestions for YPA specifically: 

  • More social/networking events – something to bring back a sense of community
  • More advocacy

Mental Health Resources at Yale

Magellan Behavioral Health

  • Phone: 800-327-9240
  • Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
  • Care with one of our network providers that has been pre-authorized by Magellan is covered at 100%.
  • Separate from Yale and are confidential.
  • Legal and financial consultation also available.

EAP vs on going counseling

  • EAP- employee assistant program up to 6 sessions for short term issues per problem.
  • On going on counseling- for longer term issue or specialty there is no limit with Yale health plan
    • If you want to see a therapist on a regular basis, this is the option to pursue.

How to get care?

  • Call Magellan for a Provider Recommendation
    • Call Magellan (800-327-9240), press 2, you will be connected to a licensed mental health clinician. If outpatient treatment is recommended you have two options for getting an appointment:
      • The Magellan clinician will give you names and contact information of providers in our network. You will call the providers to see if they are available and make an appointment.
      • Or you can ask the Magellan clinician to find you the earliest possible appointment with an available provider. Magellan will call you back with the date and time of your appointment.

  • Adapted from https://yalehealth.yale.edu/directory/department/behavioral-health

Find a provider 

Another way to find a network provider is through the Yale Health/Magellan web page. Choose the provider search function from the menu on the top and select the Behavioral Health Network. (Watch a video that walks you through the Magellan Health provider search process.) Once you have selected a network provider from the list and made an appointment call Magellan for treatment authorization.

Warm Lines

  • Reach Out Greater New Haven Warmline (Clifford Beers) *COVID-19
    • (203) 287-2460
    • 8:30am - 7pm Monday-Thursday
    • 8:30am - 6pm Friday
  • CT Behavioral Health Partnership Warmline (ctbhp.com) Statewide
    • 877-552-8247- Select Prompts 1 & 3
    • Para español, seleccione el numero 2 & 2 or 711 for Relay Services
    • 9 am – 5 pm Monday - Friday
  • JoinRiseBe Statewide Young Adult Peer Initiative/Warmline
    • 1-855-6-HOPENOW
    • 2pm – 9pm; 7 days per week

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline