A Virtual Mental Health Clinic for University Students: A Qualitative Study of End-User Service Needs and Priorities.

Louise Farrer,Amelia Gulliver,Kylie Bennett,Jade Ky Chan,Kathleen M Griffiths

doi:10.2196/mental.3890

Abstract

BackgroundHelp seeking for mental health problems among university students is low, and Internet-based interventions such as virtual clinics have the potential to provide private, streamlined, and high quality care to this vulnerable group.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to conduct focus groups with university students to obtain input on potential functions and features of a university-specific virtual clinic for mental health.MethodsParticipants were 19 undergraduate students from an Australian university between 19 and 24 years of age. Focus group discussion was structured by questions that addressed the following topics: (1) the utility and acceptability of a virtual mental health clinic for students, and (2) potential features of a virtual mental health clinic.ResultsParticipants viewed the concept of a virtual clinic for university students favorably, despite expressing concerns about privacy of personal information. Participants expressed a desire to connect with professionals through the virtual clinic, for the clinic to provide information tailored to issues faced by students, and for the clinic to enable peer-to-peer interaction.ConclusionsOverall, results of the study suggest the potential for virtual clinics to play a positive role in providing students with access to mental health support.

Highlights

Mental Health Problems and University StudentsThere is growing recognition of the high rates of mental health problems experienced by young adults attending universities
Of the 19 university students who participated in the focus groups, 10 were female
Participants were not recruited based on mental health status; nor were they asked to discuss their own mental health during the focus groups

Summary

Introduction

There is growing recognition of the high rates of mental health problems experienced by young adults attending universities. University students experience higher rates of psychological distress and mental disorders than their nonstudent peers [1,2,3]. Help seeking by university students for mental health problems is very low. A US study found that only 12.7% of students with a mental health problem sought help from university campus services [9]. Help seeking for mental health problems among university students is low, and Internet-based interventions such as virtual clinics have the potential to provide private, streamlined, and high quality care to this vulnerable group

Methods

Results

Conclusion