29th Annual Student Research Conference
Mental Illness Stigma and Perceptions among College Students
Emma F. Hegemann* and Shelby M. Partridge
Dr. Roberta Donahue, Faculty Mentor
College students typically have high rates of mental illness but low rates of help-seeking behaviors, potentially related to mental illness stigma. The National College Health Assessment (2013) found that 31% of college students were so depressed it was difficult for them to function, while 7.4% seriously considered suicide and 1.5% attempted suicide (ACHA). Adults ages 18-24 have the lowest rate for seeking help for mental illness. Promoting help-seeking behaviors among college students is essential (Gallagher, 2013). College is a developmentally challenging transition; untreated mental illness may have significant implications on academic success and productivity (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Research has determined that individuals more readily associate mental illness with negative words such as bad or dangerous, than with positive words such as innocent or competent (Wang et al., 2012). This review of literature provides a rationale for a communication campaign to reduce the perceived stigma of mental illness at Truman.
Keywords: Mental Illness, Mental Health, Stigma, Help-Seeking, College
Topic(s):Health Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 8-5
Location: GEO-SUB
Time: 3:30