Help-Seeking Preferences and Factors Associated with Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services Among First-Year Undergraduates

Oct 15, 2026

Many first-year university students face stressors that affect adjustment and well-being, shaping both help-seeking attitudes and preferred support sources. This study examined help-seeking preferences, identified factors linked to students’ attitudes toward mental health services, and assessed perceived barriers to using formal support. Survey data from first-year students (N=167) measured attitudes, challenges, social support, personality, and affect. Results link social support and negative affect with positive attitudes, while many prefer informal support over campus or off-campus services.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Study Purpose and Design

Help-Seeking Preferences

Attitudes Toward Mental Health Services

Barriers to Formal Support

Implications and Recommendations

Help-Seeking Preferences and Factors Associated with Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services Among First-Year Undergraduates Rosalia Samuel University of Toronto Stuart B. Kamenetsky University of Toronto Abstract Many first-year university students experience stressors that impact their adjustment and well-being. Their help-seeking attitudes and preferred sources of support may be associated with various factors. The purpose of the present study was to (1) examine help-seeking preferences amongst first-year university students,(2) explore factors associated with students’attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and (3) identify perceived barriers associated with accessing formal sources of support. First-year students at a Canadian university (N = 167) completed a survey assessing help-seeking attitudesand preferences, as well as challenges associated with seeking support. Participants also provided information about their perceived levels of social support, personality characteristics, and their tendency to experience positive and negative affect. Findings suggest that social support and negative affect were significantly associated with positive attitudes toward seeking mental health services. However, students were more inclined to rely on informal sources of support, such as family members and friends, compared to formal sources of support available through on-or off-campus mental health services. For those students who are inclined to access formal mental health support, barriers may impede access to care. Perceived barriers include cost and concerns about the availability of services and their overall effectiveness. These findings call for the creation of more opportunities for on-campus informal support in addition to better access to on-campus mental health services. Keywords: mental health, university, higher education, social support, community building Résumé Plusieurs étudiants en première année d’université vivent des situations stressantes qui auront un impact sur leur bien-être. Leurs attitudes par rapport à la demande d’aide et leurs sources d’assistance privilégiées peuvent être influencées par plusieurs facteurs. Les buts de cette étude étaient les suivants : (1) observer les préférences des étudiants en première annéed’université pour obtenir de l’aide; (2) explorer les facteurs associés aux attitudes des étudiants par rapport à la recherche de services en santé mentale; et (3) déterminer les obstacles perçus dans l’accès aux sources officielles d’assistance. Les étudiants (N = 167) de première année d’une université canadienne ont participé à un sondage sur leurs attitudes et leurs préférences en ce qui concerne la demande d’aide et les défis associés. Les participants ont aussi soumis de l’information sur leur perception du niveau de soutien social dont ils bénéficient, leur personnalité et leur tendance à éprouver des affects positifs ou négatifs. Les conclusions de cette étude suggèrent que le soutien social et les affects négatifs sont associés de façon significative à une attitude positive à l’égard de la recherche de services en santé mentale. Cependant, les étudiants sont davantage prédisposés à recourir aux sources de soutien informelles, comme leurs parents ou leurs amis, plutôt qu’aux sources officielles d’aide en santé mentale disponibles sur le campus ou à l’extérieur. Pour certains étudiants qui étaient prédisposés à demander de l’assistance auprès d’une source officielle d’aide en santé mentale sur le campus, certaines contraintes ont pu entraver l’accès aux soins disponibles. Parmi les contraintes perçues, nous comptons le coût et les préoccupations relatives à la disponibilité et à l’efficacité des services offerts. Ces conclusions appellent à la création de ressources supplémentaires de soutien informel sur les campus, en plus d’un meilleur accès à des services de soins de santé mentale sur place, à l’université . Mots-clés : santé mentale, université, ensei

FAQs

What was the purpose of the study?

The study aimed to examine first-year students’ help-seeking preferences, explore factors associated with attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and identify perceived barriers to accessing formal support.

Which factors were associated with positive attitudes toward seeking mental health services?

Social support and negative affect were significantly associated with positive attitudes toward seeking mental health services.

Why might students have difficulty accessing formal mental health support?

Perceived barriers such as cost and concerns about service availability and effectiveness may impede access to care.

Oct 15, 2026

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