I’m Not Crazy or Anything: Exploring Culture, Mental Health Stigma, and Mental Health Service Use among Urban Community College Students

ABSTRACT

Despite best efforts among mental health service providers on community college campuses, students of color often feel hesitant to utilize such services, despite even the most urgent needs. The purpose of this research is to better understand the experiences and attitudes of urban community college students specific to mental health and mental health services available on campus. Focus groups comprised enrolled students resulted in data from which were drawn emergent themes relevant to student attitudes. Major findings include a mistrust of both the campus environment and psychotherapy, culturally based negative attitudes toward seeking therapy, lack of awareness of available campus services, and basic misunderstandings of mental health services. Future interventions based on the findings of this research include the design and implementation of initiatives designed to better inform students on the topics of mental health and available campus-based services while remaining sensitive to barriers created by cultural stigma.