Home About Michigan Doctoral Experience Study (MDES) Findings and Insights Yearly Changes in Ph.D. Student Mental Health Yearly Changes in Ph.D. Student Mental Health 2025 | Summary Report In this report, we take a closer look at changes in students’ mental health from year to year. Our findings suggest that Ph.D. students’ first to second year transition is the period in which mental health is most likely to decline, and that subsequent years are most often characterized by stable mental health. Dramatic changes in mental health are uncommon, but among students who do experience them, stress and unmet needs in their social contexts may play a major role.