According to the Observatoire sur la santé mentale étudiante en enseignement supérieur, nearly one in two CEGEP and university students is at risk of experiencing a major depressive episode. Yet those affected make little use of the support resources available at their institutions.
Why is there such a gap between needs and the use of support services? Erin Barker, a psychology researcher at Concordia University, set out to find out, and to identify ways to overcome this obstacle.
Her team surveyed students at various times across the 2022-2023 academic year. The study aimed to determine the periods during which stress levels were highest and to identify students who were more likely to develop stress-related problems.
The study then used this data to conduct surveys at specific times. The questionnaire focused on participants' overall well-being, the presence of depressive symptoms, and stressors. The study found that a lack of knowledge about available services, a desire for independence, and constraints such as lack of time were barriers to seeking help.
Survey participants were then provided with a list of campus services tailored to the needs they had expressed. For example, those who were stressed by a fear of failure in certain courses were referred to tutoring and academic support services. Meanwhile, those experiencing mental health issues received information about available psychological support services.
The researcher noted a 5% increase in the use of support services among students who took part in the survey, compared to those who did not. This is a significant increase on a campus with a population of around 40,000.
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