Mental Health Knowledge, Attitude towards Seeking Help, and Perceived Stigma among College Students

Abstract

Acknowledging the mental health needs of young people is essential to bring their functioning to its optimum and to provide for the development of their community. Even with the availability of effective treatments, young adults are less likely to seek professional help. One of the major barriers to them seeking care is their limited knowledge about mental health problems and available treatments and the prevailing stigma about mental illnesses. The present research focuses on understanding the mental health literacy, stigma and attitude seeking formal help of the population in the covid scenario. The study explores the relationship between mental health knowledge, attitude towards seeking professional psychological help and perceived devaluation and discrimination among college students. The findings of the study suggest a positive correlation between the variables and significant gender difference in mental health awareness and attitude towards seeking help. The study concludes that extensive mental health promotion may result in the reduction of the prevailing stigma and this can in turn catalyze the willingness to seek formal help in the population