Is a PhD worth the stress?

Q: If there are so many potential drawbacks, especially in terms of mental health, why do people still pursue a PhD?

A: I would start by saying that any job, not just the PhD, has the potential to have a negative mental health impact.  A toxic environment can exist anywhere–I know from experience.  Secondly, I try to keep in mind that this is bigger than me. The people who have invested in me up until this point, those I hope to inspire in the future and the intended impact of my work is far more important to me than a professor who has let the academy give them a false sense of superiority. At the same time, I’m sure it’s possible to honor those people and your personal mission outside of academia if one chose to do so.