For the past six months I've struggled with very poor concentration. My GP tested me for everything and I came back medically healthy. I was then referred to two counsellors who offered CBT but didn't help. Finally, last week, my doctor suggested I may have atypical depression and prescribed medication.

Should I tell my supervisor that I am on antidepressants? I have a very supportive advisory team, but who are starting to feel frustrated with my lack of results. If I am honest I probably do have low-level depression about my PhD and my future but I do not have the full symptoms.

I'm not sure what to do with this diagnosis? Do I use it to explain my lack of progress? Or do I just tell them out of respect? Or do I just say nothing? They've always been very, very supportive but I don't want them to lose trust in me, as there is still a lot of stigma around depression and mental health, particularly in academia.

I don't know what to do.

If you're not sure about talking to your supervisor directly, you could possibly talk to student services or occupational health. It might be handy to have this on record, in case you end up over-running on your PhD.

Well done for seeking help on this. I hope it's making a difference for you.

Hi there. Sorry to hear you're struggling, depression is rubbish, whether it's mild or severe. It sounds like your mood might be related to your circumstances though- is it worth seeking counselling (but not CBT)? There are lots of different approaches you could try. I have bipolar and saw a counsellor at the uni counselling service and they were great. It wasn't CBT as I really don't benefit from that, it was just tailored to what I needed. I was forced to tell my PhD supervisor about my diagnosis, but she was very understanding. My current supervisors also know and they are also pretty good with it, but then I work in psychology so I guess they should have a good understanding of it. If you feel that it is really affecting your progress and you are comfortable with your supervisors, it might be worth mentioning. It's a common problem and they may just surprise you with their understanding. Given that they're very supportive anyway it might give you some peace of mind to know that you've explained what's going on and they're okay with it- trying to be okay around everyone when you're not feeling okay can be tiring and stressful. Best of luck with whatever you decide. KB