The relationship between mental health and architects, particularly architecture students, is not a new concern. In a world where stress is one of the greatest challenges of the century—affecting over 90% of the global population according to the World Health Organization (WHO)—the field of architecture and its practices, both academic and professional, have normalized stress and anxiety as intrinsic to the profession. However, recent student surveys reveal deep dissatisfaction with this reality, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. Is it time, therefore, to reassess institutional practices and push for a cultural shift?
There is no shortage of research and articles demonstrating how the practice of architecture, whether in academia or professional life, is bound up with unrealistic demands, sleepless nights, stress, anxiety, and other health issues stemming from this reality. In a 2014 survey conducted by the Graduate Architecture, Landscape, and Design Student Union (GALDSU) at the University of Toronto, many students admitted to regularly pulling all-nighters, skipping meals, abandoning extracurricular social activities, and rarely exercising in order to meet project deadlines.
Another survey, conducted by the Architects' Journal in 2016, revealed that more than a quarter of architecture students in the UK are currently seeking or have previously sought treatment for mental health issues, while another 25% anticipate needing treatment in the future. The results of this study prompted Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, to describe the situation as "almost an epidemic of mental health issues."
