36th Annual Student Research Conference
Mental Health Stigma as a Barrier to Treatment Among College Students: A Proposed Study
Seth T. Overall
Dr. Katie Judd, Faculty Mentor
This study will explore barriers that prevent individuals with mental illnesses from seeking treatment, particularly focusing on the impact of mental health stigma. Previous research has argued that distinguishing between public and self stigma is important for understanding the mehanisms through which stigma operates(Link & Phelan, 2001). Studies have shown a positive correlation between perceived public stigma and self-stigma, which negatively affects an individual's willingness to seek counseling (Vogel et al,. 2007). Given the mental health crisis among college students in the US (Vogel et al., 2007; Watson et al., 2018), the present project proposes to enhance understanding about the role of public and self-stigma in mental health treatment among college students. The data collection for this problem has focused on individual universities, which may limit the scope and generalizability of the conclusions drawn. The present study will include samples from multiple universities to provide a more nuanced understanding of the issue and more effective strategies for increasing mental health service utilization.
Keywords: Mental Health, Stigma, College Students, Public Stigma, Self-Stigma
Topic(s):Psychology
Health Science
Interdisciplinary Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 103-2
Location: SUB Georgian Room B
Time: 8:45