Mental Health Literacy in Emerging Adults in a University Setting: Distinctions between Symptom Awareness and Appraisal

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      23
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
    • Subject Terms:
      Incidence; Mental Disorders; Help Seeking; Student Behavior; Undergraduate Students; Access to Health Care; Knowledge Level; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Barriers; Social Bias; Family Influence; Peer Influence; Confidentiality; Mixed Methods Research; Foreign Countries; Student Surveys; Questionnaires; Check Lists; School Counseling; School Health Services
    • Subject Terms:
      Canada
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/0743558415605383
    • ISSN:
      0743-5584
    • Abstract:
      Despite the high prevalence of mental health concerns in university populations, students are unlikely to seek formal help. The current study examined help-seeking behaviors among emerging adults in a university setting using a mental health literacy framework. Responses from 122 university undergraduates were examined. Students ranged in age from 17 to 25 years (M = 20.67 years, SD = 2.03 years). Quantitative data were collected to determine students' knowledge and use of campus services and to compare students' awareness and appraisal of common mental health symptoms. Narrative data were collected to identify the key symptoms that are appraised to be "early warning signs" versus "early action signs," and to identify barriers and facilitators to help-seeking. Mental health symptoms were more likely to be assessed as warning signs than signs warranting action. Lack of knowledge and stigma were barriers to help-seeking, while urging from family and friends, increased knowledge, and confidentiality were identified as facilitators to help-seeking. Emerging adults in a university setting tend to make distinctions between warning and action signs. Although demonstrating good awareness of the signs of declining mental health, students may respond reactively rather than proactively to symptoms.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Number of References:
      31
    • Publication Date:
      2017
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1151784