"It's like saying I'm not smart enough or good enough": mental illness self-labeling and self-stigma in graduate school
Date
2025
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Graduate students experience high rates of mental illness, often struggling with anxiety, depression, or other conditions while navigating demanding programs, high-pressure environments, and complex institutional systems. Many face burnout and imposter syndrome, and accessing help or accommodations often requires disclosure of a diagnosis or symptoms. This study explores how graduate students navigate the process of self-labeling as mentally ill, focusing on the role of stigma within academia. The research aimed to better understand how students interpret their mental health experiences, whether they self-label, disclose, and how stigma influences these decisions. Guided by Thoits’ (1985) self-labeling theory and an intersectional stigma framework (Berger, 2004), this mixed methods study included a survey of 500 graduate students across the United States and follow-up interviews with 20 participants. Quantitative findings show that self-labeling, stigma, and disclosure are shaped by both individual and environmental factors, with characteristics such as LGBTQIA+ identity, age, race, international student status, and field of study significantly influencing internalized stigma, anticipated discrimination, and willingness to disclose - particularly to advisors or mentors. Social context also played a key role; knowing peers who had disclosed and having prior treatment experiences increased the likelihood of disclosure, highlighting the importance of perceived safety and normalization. Qualitative analyses further revealed that self-labeling is a complex process influenced by factors such as stigma, understanding of identity, and symptom severity. These findings underscore the importance of institutional policies that are culturally competent, equity-driven, and attentive to intersectionality and power dynamics that shape graduate students’ mental health experiences. ☐ Keywords: Mental illness, Stigma, Graduate Students, Mental health, Self-labeling theory, Intersectional Stigma, Mental illness disclosure
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Keywords
Graduate students, Intersectional stigma, Intersectionality, Mental illness, Self-labeling, Stigma