Reducing Stigma Surrounding Mental Health: Diverse Undergraduate Students Speak Out

ABSTRACT

Given the growing rates of psychological disorders in college settings, the current study investigated student perspectives about how to end mental health stigma, a hindrance to help seeking. Participants were 1,255 demographically diverse undergraduate students from a large city university system (M_age = 22.4, 73.9% non-White). Students completed a questionnaire that assessed their knowledge and perspectives about mental health-related issues including an open-ended question that elicited suggestions for how to end mental health stigma. Responses were coded using qualitative thematic analysis, of which the top three were: education (n = 325, 20.5% of responses), awareness (n = 271, 17.1% of responses), and positive atmosphere (n = 178, 11.2% of responses). Notably, students who reported having been diagnosed or treated for a mental health disorder were more likely to suggest curriculum changes and reconceptualization of mental health themes. We hope that results will be used to inform targeted interventions for combatting stigma in diverse college settings and beyond.

KEYWORDS:

• Stigma
• undergraduate
• mental health
• thematic analysis
• health

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the JCK Foundation.