New York Tech Study Investigates Mental Health Stigma in College Students

Findings Could Help Counselors Understand How Cultural Experiences May Impact Treatment

Old Westbury, NY (04/18/2024) — A new study by a counseling researcher at New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech) sheds light on the relationship between race and mental health stigma. The findings could help college counseling and wellness professionals better understand students' cultural experiences and the barriers they may face in seeking mental health treatment.

Data shows that mental health challenges continue to be a growing concern among college students, with students of color remaining an underserved and understudied group. In addition, while mental health worsened among all student groups during the COVID-19 pandemic, students of color were particularly vulnerable.

Now, as seen in the Journal of College Student Mental Health, a new study led by Nayoung Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and counseling at New York Tech, investigates how college students across different races perceive mental health treatment.

Kim, a faculty member in the university's Mental Health Counseling, M.S. program, and a researcher from Palo Alto University analyzed survey responses from 747 college students across the United States. Some responses were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of an earlier study, while others were collected after the pandemic's onset.

In both evaluations, students were asked to self-identify their race as Caucasian/White, African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian/Asian American, American Indian/Native American, or Multiracial. The students then self-assessed statements regarding their perceptions on various mental health topics, with each statement having an individual scale (one to five, for example) correlating with whether they agreed or disagreed. Topics included:

The findings revealed that Asian/Asian American students had higher levels of self-stigma and public stigma compared to other groups, suggesting they may delay seeking help for mental health challenges. Given this, the researchers suggest that counselors offer these students a focused intervention to help address mental health issues promptly.

On a positive note, college students who were enrolled during the pandemic, across all races, showed decreased levels of self-stigma. This suggests that increased mental health awareness resulting from the pandemic reduced shame associated with seeking mental health treatment.

Given this, the researchers note that, at the administrative level, it is essential to educate the campus community about stigma and potential psychological distress that can impact students' well-being. Doing so could significantly impact whether students feel empowered to seek help.

"Our findings are particularly helpful for college counseling centers, which could benefit by tailoring counseling services to provide support for racial and ethnic minority students," says Kim, whose clinical and supervision experiences include school, college, and community counseling settings. "With a deeper understanding of students' cultural experiences, college counselors can also facilitate group counseling sessions that delve into the complexities of mental health stigma and create a safe and inclusive space where students can express their perspectives, acquire effective coping strategies, and gain insights into the impact of that stigma."

About New York Institute of Technology

New York Institute of Technology's six schools and colleges offer undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and other professional degree programs in in-demand disciplines including computer science, data science, and cybersecurity; biology, health professions, and medicine; architecture and design; engineering; IT and digital technologies; management; and energy and sustainability. A nonprofit, independent, private, and nonsectarian institute of higher education founded in 1955, it welcomes nearly 8,000 students worldwide. The university has campuses in New York City and Long Island, New York; Jonesboro, Arkansas; and Vancouver, British Columbia, as well as programs around the world. More than 114,000 alumni are part of an engaged network of physicians, architects, scientists, engineers, business leaders, digital artists, and healthcare professionals. Together, the university's community of doers, makers, healers, and innovators empowers graduates to change the world, solve 21st-century challenges, and reinvent the future. For more information, visit nyit.edu.

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Students gather on New York Tech's Old Westbury campus. Credit: Bob Handelman/New York Institute of Technology