Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of American College Health
Publication Date
2018
Abstract
Objective: This study examined whether self-help (books, websites, mobile apps) increases help seeking for mental health problems among college students by minimizing stigma as a barrier. Participants and Methods: A survey was conducted with 200 college students reporting elevated distress from February to April 2017. Results: Intentions to use self-help were low, but a significant portion of students unwilling to see mental health professionals intended to use self-help. Greater self-stigma related to lower intentions to seek professional help, but was unrelated to seeking self-help. Similarly, students who only used self-help in the past reported higher self-stigma than those who sought professional treatment in the past. Although stigma was not a barrier for self-help, alternate barriers were identified. Conclusions: Offering self-help may increase rates of students receiving help for mental health problems, possibly by offering an alternative for students unwilling to seek in-person therapy due to stigma concerns.
Recommended Citation
Levin, Michael E.; Krafft, Jennifer; and Levin, Crissa, "Does Self-Help Increase Rates of Help Seeking for Student Mental Health Problems by Minimizing Stigma as a Barrier?" (2018). Psychology Faculty Publications. Paper 1626.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/psych_facpub/1626
