The fact they've graduated from a "talking stick" to rearranging the furniture and trading sides of the couch between responses was prob an early warning sign
Yes, but I'd argue the biggest contributing factor was COVID
Isolation just kinda "does that" to people. Yes, the problem predates 2020 but anecdotally I think we've all met that abrasive, lonely trucker and statistically mental health hospitalizations sky rocketed in 2020 and still hasn't returned to the previous baseline, especially for those under 18
I don't think I'd bother working on a PhD 15 years from retirement