Low Rates of Help-Seeking Behavior
Students show low rates of help-seeking behavior.
In addition to college students facing increased psychological and environmental stressors during college, the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) revealed that mental disorders such as Social Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Eating Disorders, and Schizophrenia often begin during traditional college age years, which includes late adolescence and early adulthood. Despite certain mental disorders often emerging during this period, studies also indicate that college students show low rates of help-seeking behavior in relationship to general mental health concerns and severe mental disorders.
Examples
- Many studies reported that during times of distress 80% of college students planned to seek guidance and/or advice from a peer (Sharkin, Plageman, and Mangold, 2003).
- The Berkeley Graduate Student Mental Health Study revealed that only 2% of students indicated they would seek help from mental health professionals or faculty in times of need (Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lustig, 2006).
- A recent study, for example, found that, among college students who screened positive for depression or anxiety, between 37% and 84%, depending on the disorder, did not seek services (Eisenberg, Golberstein, & Gollust, 2007).
- Unfortunately, 80-90% of college students who die by suicide do not seek help from their college counseling centers (Kisch, Leino, & Silverman, 2005), and only a minority of those at potential risk seek counseling services (Furr, Westefeld, McConnell, & Jenkins, 2001; Kisch et al., 2005).
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Anna M. Gove Student Health Center, 107 Gray Drive 27412
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
VOICE 336.334.5340
FAX 336.334.5343