Do students with mental health problems often seek help? What obstacles do they experience?

Did you know?

Many students do not realise they are struggling with a mental disorder. Others are convinced that they can or should solve their problems themselves. Other reasons why students don’t seek help are not knowing where to turn, incorrect ideas about what treatment costs, fear of the stigma associated with seeking and receiving help, or concern about a potential negative impact on their academic careers. Finally, there are also logistical reasons, such as a lack of time.

An unmet need with respect to mental disorders:
  • suicidality generates higher likelihood of treatment: 47-71%
  • a higher severity of psychological problem is linked to both a greater need for treatment, 63% with more than two mental health problems
  • the unmet need is estimated at 55%

The specific reasons for not seeking help:

  • 56 to 83% of students report cognitive and practical barriers
  • 42% to 55% of students report stigma as reasons for not seeking help

Students who screen positive for one of the clinical outcomes are not fully aware of the problems:

  • 22% indicate that they do not experience a problem and 24% are in doubt,
  • 25% believe that there is a mental health problem and plan to do something about it, 17% are actively dealing with it and 12% indicate that the problem has already been dealt with.

Willingness to seek treatment and the perceived need to change the situation vary according according to the clinical outcomes.

  • It is striking that the ‘externalizing’ behaviours and disorders are associated with a higher occurrence of the idea that there is no problem
  • Theneed increases with the number of problems: 49% with one problem, 65% with two and 72% with three or more problems.
  • The highest need for treatment can be found in students who have attempted suicide 85%

Conclusions

  • The unmet need for students in Flemish higher education is estimated at 55%;
  • The specific reasons for not seeking help are rather cognitive in nature: 83% of the students indicate that they want to solve the psychological problems themselves;
  • Overall, only 56% of students with a mental health problem report an effective need for treatment;
  • It is striking that externalizing behaviours and problems are associated with a higher occurrence of the idea that there is no problem requiring treatment. This clinical group has low treatment rates, and also a low need for treatment.
  • At the policy level, the findings underscore the importance of making a structural effort to further investigate young people's help-seeking behavior, as well as launching a campaign in this regard.
Back to the results 2022-2023
Back to the results 2022-2023