Aligning students and counseling centers on student mental health needs and treatment resources

J Am Coll Health. 2022 Apr;70(3):724-732. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1762611. Epub 2020 May 20.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo recognize gaps between students' expectations of college counseling centers and centers' current practices and to identify strategies to improve care from both clinicians and students. Participants: As part of an ongoing study on mobile technologies for stress management, we gathered data from counseling center clinicians and students at two large Midwestern universities. Methods: Clinicians completed online questionnaires on their current practices and interest in digital mental health tools. Students and clinicians completed co-design workshops. In subsequent individual interviews, students identified barriers to care. Results: Both students and clinicians recognized a need for stress management and mental health support outside of counseling sessions. Conclusions: Students and clinicians recognize barriers to face-to-face therapy and are eager to collaborate to identify opportunities to address barriers to mental health services. We discuss digital mental health tools as a potential opportunity for support and benefits of including students in discussions of treatment resources.

Keywords: College students; digital mental health; higher education; mental health; technology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Counseling
  • Humans
  • Mental Health Services*
  • Mental Health*
  • Students / psychology
  • Universities