Episode 110: RE-RELEASE: Destigmatizing Mental Health (with Andrew Devendorf)
Oct 4, 2023
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Andrew Devendorf, clinical psychologist specializing in mental health research, discusses the prevalence of mental health difficulties within the field and the harmful taboos against speaking openly about them. The conversation explores common misconceptions about mental illness, strengths of self-relevant research, and ways to be more supportive to those facing mental health challenges.
The podcast discusses the high prevalence of mental health challenges among graduate students in clinical psychology programs.
The importance of supporting students' mental health and destigmatizing mental illness through compassionate and open communication.
The negative perceptions and bias against self-relevant research in the field of clinical psychology, and the need to challenge stigmas and encourage inclusivity in academia.
Deep dives
Stigma surrounding mental health in academia
The podcast episode discusses the stigma surrounding mental health in academia, specifically within the field of clinical psychology. It highlights the need for more open conversations and support for students and researchers who may be dealing with mental health challenges.
Prevalence of mental health challenges in graduate students
The podcast explores the high prevalence of mental health challenges among graduate students, particularly in clinical psychology programs. The host and guest discuss research findings that show a significant number of graduate students experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health difficulties.
Supporting students and reducing stigma
The podcast delves into the role of advisors and mentors in supporting students' mental health and destigmatizing mental illness. It emphasizes the importance of compassion, validation, and open communication to create a supportive environment for students who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Negative Perceptions of Self-Relevant Research in Clinical Psychology
The podcast discusses the negative perceptions of self-relevant research in the field of clinical psychology. The guest, Andrew Devindorf, shares his personal experience of facing criticism for including personal experiences in his research. He conducted a survey among clinical psychologists and found that they viewed self-relevant researchers on mental illness topics more negatively than those on physical illness topics. These negative attitudes towards self-relevant research in mental illness are concerning, considering the importance of reducing stigma in the field.
Challenging the Bias against Self-Relevant Research
The podcast also explores the bias against self-relevant research in academia. The hosts and guest discuss the misconception that personal connections automatically disqualify researchers from conducting objective and high-quality research. They highlight examples of influential researchers, such as Marsha Linahan, who have made significant contributions to their fields precisely because of their personal experiences. The conversation emphasizes the need to challenge the stigma and encourage inclusivity in academic settings, recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and personal connections in driving meaningful research.
Andrew Devendorf joins Alexa and Yoel to discuss his work on "me-search" (or self-relevant research) within clinical psychology. He talks about the prevalence of mental health difficulties within the field, and the harmful taboos against speaking openly about them. And, he shares his own reasons for studying depression and suicide, and how he has been discouraged from citing personal experience as a motivation for his work. Their conversation also explores common misconceptions about mental illness, strengths of self-relevant research, and ways to be more supportive to those facing mental health challenges. In the end, Yoel and Alexa fail to resolve their debate about the existence of the "unbiased researcher."
