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Article
Does Self-Help Increase Rates of Help Seeking for Student Mental Health Problems by Minimizing Stigma as a Barrier?
Journal of American College Health
  • Michael E. Levin, Utah State University
  • Jennifer Krafft, Utah State University
  • Crissa Levin, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
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.

Citation Information
Michael E. Levin, Jennifer Krafft and Crissa Levin. "Does Self-Help Increase Rates of Help Seeking for Student Mental Health Problems by Minimizing Stigma as a Barrier?" Journal of American College Health (2018)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael-levin/21/