Accessing and Utilizing Campus Mental Health Services: A Mixed-Method Investigation of Black College Students' Perceptions and Experiences

The present exploratory sequential mixed-method dissertation sought to reduce Black-White emerging adult mental health usage disparities by better understanding Black emerging adults’ perceptions of psychological health services and identifying amenable targets for intervention. For Black emerging adults in college, college counseling centers (CCCs) are typically one of the most accessible mental health treatment centers available. Prior research suggests factors that may be most influential in Black college students’ decisions to seek care are self-stigma, perceived stigma from others, perceived accessibility of services, perceived cultural trust, and perceived clinician cultural responsiveness. This study assessed factors impacting participants’ willingness to seek treatment. Two hundred and seventeen Black college students attending a predominantly White institution completed surveys assessing their perceptions and experiences of the CCC at their institution. Then a subset of participants (n = 26) with varying levels of experience using CCC and affiliated telehealth services completed hour-long interviews to expand on their perceptions and experiences with campus-based therapy service. Overall, findings provide insight into how to best encourage mental health service utilization among Black emerging adults in college.