Mental Health and Well-Being of Researchers
A healthy and supportive scientific community in which student and professional researchers can flourish is critical for cultivating excellence in research. There is evidence of a growing mental health crisis within the research community and higher education. This crisis was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, and recent escalations of racial inequalities and social injustice in the United States. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recommends that U.S. higher education institutions undertake initiatives that address the stigma of mental illness and create a culture of well-being for their students.
Sigma Xi has partnered with Happy, an innovative mental health platform, to launch a new emotional support program for Society members. The partnership provides access to confidential, personalized, peer-based support services at no cost to Sigma Xi active members.
Active Sigma Xi members can use the Happy service for FREE through an exclusive access number. Visit our Happy–Member Benefits page to gain access and learn more. (member login required)
In addition to the support line, all members are invited to join our monthly "Happy" Hour—a virtual emotional health workshop. Each month, members can join a confidential zoom session to share stories, de-stress, give and receive emotional support, and connect with peers and Happy support givers.
Upcoming "Happy" Hours:
December 14th -- As we end the year, we will engage in taking a look at the best of what was, is and what could be so we can together plant seeds for a new tomorrow. We will look to create a deeper understanding of our potential impact as scientists and humans and leverage the community to make it come to life!
January 18th -- We will gather in continuity to see what has blossomed from the seeds planted at the end of the year. What have we been able to create? In what ways have you given back to the Sigma Xi community and forged pathways to change with other members? Together we will grow in 2023!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mission/purpose of Happy?
Happy’s mission is to create a more supportive culture -- one where a) emotional support (the essential ingredient of mental health) is available around-the-clock and b) people are taught and inspired to better support the emotional health of one another.
Happy is pursuing the first prong of its mission through a universal peer support network, the highest quality peer network in the country:
- A national network of highly-qualified peers (“Support Givers”) who have healthcare/caregiving backgrounds and are statistically exceptional at providing emotional support
- A state-of-the-art communication platform involving a mobile app, toll-free access and inbound and outbound calling that allow people to connect, reconnect and build ongoing relationships with Happy’s Support Givers
Happy is pursuing the second prong of its mission through a forthcoming textbook and efforts like Happy Music designed to provide an education that most people never receive on the techniques and importance of emotionally supporting the people around them.
Who does Happy serve?
Happy serves everyone – men, women, college students, retirees, mothers, fathers, scientists, musicians, nurses, programmers. Happy was founded by scientists and technologists and is specifically focused on supporting people who are resistant to traditional therapy but find the idea of genuine/supportive human connection appealing.
Who are Happy’s Support Givers?
What do Happy’s Support Givers do?
They listen, comfort, encourage, and above all, care. They have nowhere else to be but deep in conversation. They love connecting with, hearing the stories of, and lifting up other people.
How/When/Why would I use the service?
You can use the service any time you want someone to talk to about anything on your mind. Maybe you’re feeling down or disconnected, maybe you’re feeling frustrated or hopeless, maybe you’re feeling good, maybe you just want to share an idea with someone.
If you’re a student, your stressors may relate to completing your dissertation, defending your PhD, finding a job out of school, fear about not getting one, competition with peers, research struggles, or pressures to complete science studies. If you're a postdoc, your stressors may relate to advancing your research project, acquiring research funding, obtaining health insurance, navigating administrative requirements, or exploring future career paths. If you’re a professor, your stressors may relate to difficult students, lack of funding for research, getting papers published, university politics, competition from colleagues, or pressure to make tenure. Many of our members also struggle with stress and anxiety related to student debt or other financial problems, health issues, relationship struggles and family dynamics.
Active Sigma Xi members can use the Happy service for FREE through an exclusive access number.
Visit our Happy–Member Benefits page to gain access and learn more. (member login required)
Who are Happy’s other partners?
Health insurers (e.g., Centene/WellCare), large hospital systems (e.g., Ochsner) and national health organizations (e.g., American Heart Association, American Nurses Association).
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