Returning to university as a mid-career professional is a bold and often transformative decision, but it can also be mentally and emotionally taxing. Delia Hamlett, an educational psychologist who works closely with adult learners, says that although these students bring valuable life experience to the classroom, they also face a unique set of mental health issues that younger, first-time students typically don’t encounter.
“Many adult learners are juggling caregiving, full-time work, financial responsibilities and, in some cases, chronic health conditions,” she explains.
Between board meetings, school runs and assignment deadlines, these students must learn to balance an already full life with the rigours of postgraduate study. “These stressors create a significant emotional and cognitive load, which can impact academic performance and overall well-being,” says Hamlett
Mid-career professionals often wear several hats — employee, partner, parent and now, student. “This creates a high cognitive load,” says Hamlett. “Many are highly motivated but feel pressure to ‘do it all’, which can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, difficulty concentrating and even feelings of isolation, exacerbated when their learning environments don’t reflect their lived realities.”
