ERIC Number: EJ1214518
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1066-8926
EISSN: N/A
Identifying Barriers to Mental Health Service Utilization among Heavy Drinking Community College Students
Cadigan, Jennifer M.; Lee, Christine M.
Community College Journal of Research and Practice, v43 n8 p585-594 2019
There are limited findings on mental health prevalence and service utilization rates among community college (CC) students. Utilizing a heavy drinking CC sample, the current study examined: 1) prevalence of mental health symptoms, 2) mental health service utilization and perceived unmet service need, and 3) barriers to service utilization. Participants were 142 CC students who were heavy alcohol users (70% female; 59% White) from three public CCs in the Pacific Northwest who were participating in a larger study designed to adapt a brief intervention for high-risk alcohol use. Findings of the current study revealed that 32% of CC students had a positive screen for depression; 25% had a positive screen for anxiety; a total of 28% received mental health services in the past 12 months; a total of 41% reported a perceived unmet need for mental health services at some point in the past 12 months (i.e., needing mental health services but not receiving it). Students with mental health symptoms reported more barriers to receiving services, and were more likely to not receive services due to cost, compared to students without mental health symptoms. There were differences in type of barrier as a function of alcohol use severity, although there was no difference in number of barriers. Campuses may benefit from understanding mental health service utilization barriers their students report and to effectively advertise the services offered. Training of student services personnel staff and faculty in screening for mental health or substance use may be a worthwhile and cost-effective endeavor.
Descriptors: Barriers, Mental Health, Drinking, Alcohol Abuse, Community Colleges, Two Year College Students, Public Colleges, Incidence, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Risk
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: F32AA025263; R34AA023047