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Chinese University Students’ Perspectives on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Counseling

Author

Listed:
  • Xuan Ning

    (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University-Beijing Normal University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China)

  • Josephine Pui-Hing Wong

    (Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Silang Huang

    (Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada)

  • Yina Fu

    (Department of Social Work, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Xiaojie Gong

    (Department of Sociology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Lizeng Zhang

    (Department of Philosophy, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China)

  • Carla Hilario

    (School of Nursing, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Kenneth Po-Lun Fung

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

  • Miao Yu

    (Department of Social Work, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon

    (School of Social Work, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Shengli Cheng

    (Department of Social Work, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Jianguo Gao

    (Department of Social Work, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Cun-Xian Jia

    (Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China)

Abstract

Psychological distress and mental illness have become increasingly pervasive among Chinese university students. However, many university students who need mental health treatment or psychological support do not actively seek help from professional counselors or service providers, which could lead to poor mental health outcomes. To promote help-seeking, we undertook a qualitative study to understand Chinese university students’ perspectives on help-seeking and mental health counseling. We conducted 13 focus group interviews with students in six universities in Jinan, China, and altogether 91 (62%) female students, and 56 (38%) male students participated in the study. Our results indicate that students’ misconception and distrust of on-campus counseling, stigma of mental illness, low mental health literacy, and hard-to-access mental health services are the major barriers that impede students help-seeking behaviors. Internal struggles and systematic and organizational barriers are identified to shed light on future work to promote mental health literacy among Chinese university students.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuan Ning & Josephine Pui-Hing Wong & Silang Huang & Yina Fu & Xiaojie Gong & Lizeng Zhang & Carla Hilario & Kenneth Po-Lun Fung & Miao Yu & Maurice Kwong-Lai Poon & Shengli Cheng & Jianguo Gao & Cun-, 2022. "Chinese University Students’ Perspectives on Help-Seeking and Mental Health Counseling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8259-:d:856957
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minh-Hoang Nguyen & Manh-Toan Ho & Quynh-Yen T. Nguyen & Quan-Hoang Vuong, 2019. "A Dataset of Students’ Mental Health and Help-Seeking Behaviors in a Multicultural Environment," Data, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    3. Xian-Yang Lei & La-Mei Xiao & Ya-Nan Liu & Ya-Min Li, 2016. "Prevalence of Depression among Chinese University Students: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Lin-Sheng Yang & Zhi-Hua Zhang & Liang Sun & Ye-Huan Sun & Dong-Qing Ye, 2015. "Prevalence of Suicide Attempts among College Students in China: A Meta-Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Moyi Jia & Jiuqing Cheng, 2024. "Effect of teacher social support on students’ emotions and learning engagement: a U.S.-Chinese classroom investigation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.

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