Going to graduate school, particularly when stepping out and going for the PhD, is stepping out of the norm of adult life. I remember my relatives being initially “impressed” that my husband and I were pursuing PhD programs, but after a few years with degrees a couple more years away came the, “you’re still in school?!?” questions (many discouraging times). Then there are the many points along the way asking oneself or each other in our case, “why are we doing this?” We went to grad school during a strong economy, our peers making decent money, buying houses, having babies, etc. There were so many points when losing perspective and falling into a desperate mindset could have happened. Now that grad school is a distant memory, loans long paid off, and the benefits of having the degrees and experience that give us credibility and a good working life now, it was all so worth it.
I think the things that could help to mitigate mental health risk in graduate school are the same things that mitigate risk in life in general. Graduate school was so hard, but it was also an exhilarating and stimulating time in my life that I wouldn’t trade for anything.