Barriers to Digital Mental Health Services among College Students

TL;DR

This study identifies key barriers faced by college students in using digital mental health services, highlighting emotional, logistical, and perceptual challenges that hinder engagement and access.

Contribution

It provides a detailed qualitative analysis of barriers to digital mental health service utilization among college students, informing future intervention improvements.

Findings

Nine key barriers identified, including emotional distress and privacy concerns.

Highlighting the need for personalized and culturally sensitive mental health interventions.

Emphasizing strategies to improve access and engagement in digital mental health services.

Abstract

This qualitative study explores barriers to utilization of digital mental health Intervention (DMHI) among college students. Data are from a large randomized clinical trial of an intervention, eBridge, that used motivational interviewing for online counseling to connect students with mental health issues to professional services. We applied thematic analysis to analyze the feedback from the student participants regarding their experience of using the DMHI platform. We identified nine key barriers to DMHI adoption and the use of in-person mental health services: emotional distress, time constraints, privacy concerns, resource accessibility, financial challenges, medication stigma, dissatisfaction with communication, content clarity, and treatment-related concerns. Our findings emphasize the need for personalized, culturally sensitive interventions and improved strategies to enhance the access and engagement in mental health support for young adults.