403Mental Health Needs in International Students of African Descent: Findings from the Healthy Minds Network

Autor: Heather B. Edelblute, Zeinab Baba
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: International Journal of Epidemiology. 50
ISSN: 1464-3685
0300-5771
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.049
Popis: Background Mental health issues are becoming of increasing concern for college students while universities are also becoming more internationalized with students from diverse countries. Students of sub-Sahara African (SSA) descent represent a group understudied in the mental health literature who may have unique mental health needs. Methods Data on students of SSA descent (n = 916) was obtained for academic years 2016-2019 of the Healthy Minds Network (HMN), a yearly web-based survey conducted on US university campuses. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with ever receiving counseling or therapy for mental health concerns. Results Over half (57%) were female with a mean age of 25.7. On the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 23% scored in the moderate, moderately severe, or severe depression range. Two-thirds expressed not receiving counseling or therapy for mental health concerns. In multivariate models, males (OR 0.5 (0.3-0.8), p = 0.01)) were less likely to receive counseling or therapy compared to females; students with more days of emotional or mental difficulties were increasingly more likely to ever receive counseling or therapy compared to students with no days of emotional or mental difficulties. Ever receiving counseling or therapy was associated with a rarely stressful financial situation (OR 2.6 (1.2-5.9), p = 0.02)). Conclusions Males may require incentives to get assistance with mental health issues. Making counseling more affordable could improve usage rates by students with more stressful financial situations. Key messages University administrators should consider options to address mental health concerns of this student group..
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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