Abstract
BackgroundMany college students who have mental health issues do not receive professional care for various reasons. Students who do not receive help often have both short- and long-term adverse health outcomes. Mobile apps for mental health services such as MySSP, a service provided to college students through their university, may help eliminate barriers to seeking mental health care and result in more positive outcomes for college students.ObjectiveThis qualitative study aims to better understand college students’ perceptions and attitudes toward the adoption and use of a mobile phone app for mental health, MySSP, using the technology acceptance model (TAM).MethodsA series of nine focus groups were conducted with college students (N=30) between February and May 2019 at a large, public Midwestern university. The moderator’s guide was based on the TAM, and focus group sessions primarily focused on the use and knowledge of apps for mental health, specifically, MySSP. The focus group transcriptions were hand-coded to develop a set of themes that encompassed students’ perceptions and attitudes toward MySSP.ResultsThe analysis of the focus groups suggested the following themes: (1) existing awareness of the app, (2) perceived usefulness, (3) perceived ease of use, (4) attitudes toward apps for mental health and MySSP, and (5) social influence.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide deeper insights into the perceptions of a mobile app for mental health among college students. Future research should explore the specific contexts in which an app for mental health will be most effective for college students.
Highlights
BackgroundThe prevalence and severity of mental health disorders among college students has been steadily rising [1]
Data from the American College Health Association showed that 45.1% of college students reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function and 65.7% felt overwhelmed with anxiety over the last 12 months [2]
Literature Review, we review the research related to mental health services via information and communications technologies (ICTs), including mobile phone apps for mental health for college students, followed by a brief review of the technology acceptance model (TAM)
Summary
BackgroundThe prevalence and severity of mental health disorders among college students has been steadily rising [1]. The same report showed that only 24.3% of students had sought help for anxiety over the past 12 months and even fewer had sought help for depression (20%). Many college students who have mental health issues do not receive professional help because of the limited resources on college campuses, the time required to receive help, the lack of awareness of college mental health resources, and the stigma around receiving care [4,5,6]. Many colleges and universities are seeking innovative ways to help students receive the help they need. Many college students who have mental health issues do not receive professional care for various reasons. Mobile apps for mental health services such as MySSP, a service provided to college students through their university, may help eliminate barriers to seeking mental health care and result in more positive outcomes for college students
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