Accessibility to Mental Health Services in College Students: A Qualitative Research Study

Abstract

My research focuses on the accessibility of therapy when in reference to college students in America. I aim to understand what barriers keep college students from finding effective psychotherapists. How available are mental health services in the United States, and what prevents people from receiving adequate mental health care? After researching many other works published to understand better the issues facing students finding mental health resources, I found that the most considerable barriers to care are cost, perceived ineffectiveness, and stigma. Colleges may combat some of these barriers by offering more education on the benefits of counseling and psychotherapy and offering free mental health services on their campus. Keywords: mental health, college students, accessibility, digital mental health services, psychotherapy, counseling, barriers