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Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado

Faculty Sponsor

David Hulac

Faculty Sponsor Email

david.hulac@unco.edu

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minority undergraduate students are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges and are less likely to seek support due to self-stigma and stigma from others, cultural perceptions of mental health, and help-seeking behaviors (Tucker et al., 2013). It is critical to understand mental health in cultural contexts because they influence help seeking behaviors for ethnic minority college students. These stigmas are thoughts that influence the help-seeking behaviors of students. Many ethnic minority students have internalized self-stigma toward help seeking. Part of overcoming minority student hesitancy toward help-seeking is to promote culturally aware mental health practices. In predominantly white spaces these beliefs and experiences can contribute to creating equity for ethnic minority success in college (Storrie et al., 2010). A supportive university environment is positively correlated with help-seeking behaviors and intentions. Nearly half of undergraduate students, 44.3%, experience mental health challenges (Eisenberg et al., 2007). Left unaddressed, such challenges can have adverse outcomes on academic performance (Harrison et al., 2022). When self-stigma toward help seeking is low, help-seeking behaviors are high. If a student is experiencing both depression and anxiety symptoms, they are more willing to seek psychological support. Furthermore, financial confidence is crucial to the willingness of help-seeking behavior and intention. Overall, depression and anxiety symptoms, self-stigma of help-seeking, impressions of a supportive university environment, and financial confidence are all predictors of help-seeking behavior and intention.

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