(PS4-59) Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors and Service Utilization of Black College Students

Black college students are less likely to seek mental health services compared to other students (Kam et al., 2019). Help-seeking barriers include perceived stigma (Eisenberg et al., 2009), cultural mistrust (Ravenell et al., 2008), and fear of a negative diagnosis or treatment (Griffith et al., 2011). Factors that facilitate help-seeking include perceived need for treatment, knowledge of services, and social encouragement (Ayalon & Alvidrez, 2007; Gulliver et al., 2010). Recent events, such as the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the murders of Black individuals by police, and increased racism towards the Black community, have exacerbated mental health problems for Black college students and their families (Kim et al., 2022; Lipson et al., 2019), warranting the exploration of help-seeking behaviors and the factors that impede and facilitate this process. The current study used qualitative research methods to understand Black college students' mental health help-seeking behaviors and attitudes, including the barriers and facilitators for help-seeking behaviors, service utilization preferences, and their ideas about promoting mental health help-seeking among their peers. The three-step model of mental health help-seeking (Cauce et al., 2002) and the triple quandary theory (Boykin & Toms, 1986) were used to create interview questions and organize and interpret the findings. Twenty-one Black college students enrolled at an urban university in the southeastern U.S. participated in semi-structured interviews. Results were analyzed using Braun and Clark's (2006) six-step reflexive thematic analysis. Notably, 61.9% of participants described having positive personal experiences (e.g., theirs or their family's) and attitudes toward mental health help-seeking. Their intersecting identities, primarily gender and racial identity (e.g., strong Black women schema) were often noted as important factors impacting their attitudes about seeking mental health care. Stigma from family, friends, and the Black community in general emerged as the primary barrier keeping Black college students from seeking psychological treatment (e.g., culturally, it is seen as a weakness). Conversely, social influence (e.g., family, peer) was reported as the most prominent facilitating factor (e.g., family expressing concern, knowing peers are going through similar situations). Students preferred seeking help from people they are most comfortable confiding in and who they believe to be the most trustworthy. Finally, 42.9% of students recommended targeted outreach to Black college students to increase mental health help-seeking behavior and decrease stigma. Overall, the findings from this study expand on existing help-seeking literature by offering current insights into the mental health help-seeking behaviors of Black college students, along with recommendations for more effective ways to promote and provide mental health services.