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Abstract

In the UK, student mental health issues have become of increasing concern over the last 20 years, a pattern that has been mirrored across the world (Auerbach et al., 2018; Holm- Hadulla & Koutsoukou-Argyraki, 2015). However, the UK does seem to face particular challenges not replicated in other countries with students presenting much later with more severe levels of distress (Broglia et al., 2018). There is very little data on ethnic minority students experiences of seeking help and accessing support for mental health difficulties whilst at university in the UK. It can be seen from the existing literature that there are three types of barrier to receiving help from embedded university counselling services: individual barriers to help seeking (stress, ethnicity, and gender), cultural barriers (including recognition of mental health distress, cultural identity, shame and stigma), and practical barriers (including time) to receiving initial help.

The aim of the study was to explore the incidence and severity mental health difficulties and the utilisation of embedded university health services by ethnic minority students. In addition to understand the barriers to initially accessing support and then attending counselling sessions. The study took a mixed methods approach using a sequential explanatory design with data collected in two phases from 203 students via an online survey and five semi structured interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using a series of ANCOVA, chisquared tests and Fisher’s exact tests. The qualitative data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with a combined deductive and inductive approach to enable the integration of the Health Belief Model.

Quantitative analysis suggests that contrary to expectations White students exhibit significantly higher levels of distress than ethnic minority across generalised anxiety, eating and alcohol concerns. In line with expectations ethnic minority students experienced barriers such as higher ingroup stigma, cultural values, and lack of access at higher levels than their White peers. No significant differences were found between White and ethnic minority students in terms of utilisation and dropout. Post hoc analysis of ethnic minority students found two significant predictors of help seeking. Students with higher cultural barriers displayed lower help seeking and those with higher levels of distress were more like to seek support. The findings of this study have implications for embedded counselling services and counselling practice with ethnic minority students.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Psychology School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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