Utilization of mental health services among university students in Vietnam

Abstract

This study aimed to describe mental health service utilization and examine associated factors among students in Vietnam. Data were collected at eight universities in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2018 using an administered questionnaire. The total number of participants was 9,120 (95.1% response rate). Among students participating in our survey, 12.5% (95% CI: 10.9–14.1) with depression and/or anxiety symptoms used mental health service in the last 12 months. In the multivariable regression models, significant factors associated with mental health service utilization were marital status, types of housemate, mental health problems, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol drinking. Our study made recommendations to stakeholders for improving mental health services utilization among students in Vietnam. These findings had important implications for future research on factors associated with mental health service utilization among university students.

Keywords:

• Mental health service utilization
• associated factors
• students
• universities
• Vietnam

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the kind cooperation and participation of the Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi Medical College, Thanglong University, Hanoi University, and VNU, University of Languages & International Studies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by a grant from the Hanoi University of Public Health, Vietnam.