Improving College Students' Mental Help-Seeking Intention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Improving College Students' Mental Help-Seeking Intention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aimed at testing the effectiveness of a longitudinal intervention in increasing college students' intention to seek mental help during the pandemic.

This study aimed at testing the effectiveness of a longitudinal intervention in increasing college students' intention to seek mental help during the pandemic.

A four-armed randomized controlled experiment was conducted to compare two self-persuasion methods against two control conditions. Assessments took place at baseline (T0), post-first treatment (T1), post-second treatment (six weeks, T2), and ten-week follow-up (T3).

The results showed that the intervention significantly increased students' help-seeking intention, attitude, and efficacy at different time points. It also reduced mental help-seeking-related stigma after the first task.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years old or older
• Full-time undergraduate students
• Had more than a moderate amount of mental distress

Exclusion Criteria:

• Under 18 years old
• Not full-time undergraduate students
• Had less than a moderate amount of mental distress