TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital interventions to address mental health needs in colleges
T2 - Perspectives of student stakeholders
AU - Topooco, Naira
AU - Fowler, Lauren A.
AU - Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ellen E.
AU - DePietro, Bianca
AU - Vázquez, Melissa M.
AU - Firebaugh, Marie Laure
AU - Ceglarek, Peter
AU - Monterubio, Grace
AU - Newman, Michelle G.
AU - Eisenberg, Daniel
AU - Wilfley, Denise E.
AU - Taylor, C. Barr
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health ( R01 MH115128 ). Dr. Topooco is supported by the Swedish Research Council ( 2018-06585 ); Dr. Fowler is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( T32 HL130357 ); Dr. Fitzsimmons-Craft is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health ( K08 MH120341 ). The funding sources of this study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, or data interpretation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Objective: The need for clinical services in U.S. colleges exceeds the supply. Digital Mental health Interventions (DMHIs) are a potential solution, but successful implementation depends on stakeholder acceptance. This study investigated the relevance of DMHIs from students' perspectives. Methods: In 2020–2021, an online cross-sectional survey using mixed methods was conducted with 479 students at 23 colleges and universities. Respondents reported views and use of standard mental health services and DMHIs and rated the priority of various DMHIs to be offered through campus services. Qualitative data included open-ended responses. Findings: Among respondents, 91% reported having experienced mental health problems, of which 91% reported barriers to receiving mental health services. Students highlighted therapy and counseling as desired and saw flexible access to services as important. With respect to DMHIs, respondents had the most experience with physical health apps (46%), mental health questionnaires (41%), and mental well-being apps (39%). Most were unaware of or had not used apps or self-help programs for mental health problems. Students were most likely to report the following DMHIs as high priorities: a crisis text line (76%), telehealth (66%), websites for connecting to services (62%), and text/messaging with counselors (62%). They considered a self-help program with coach support to be convenient but some also perceived such services to be possibly less effective than in-person therapy. Conclusions: Students welcome DMHIs on campus and indicate preference for mental health services that include human support. The findings, with particular focus on characteristics of the DMHIs prioritized, and students' awareness and perceptions of scalable DMHIs emphasized by policymakers, should inform schools looking to implement DMHIs.
AB - Objective: The need for clinical services in U.S. colleges exceeds the supply. Digital Mental health Interventions (DMHIs) are a potential solution, but successful implementation depends on stakeholder acceptance. This study investigated the relevance of DMHIs from students' perspectives. Methods: In 2020–2021, an online cross-sectional survey using mixed methods was conducted with 479 students at 23 colleges and universities. Respondents reported views and use of standard mental health services and DMHIs and rated the priority of various DMHIs to be offered through campus services. Qualitative data included open-ended responses. Findings: Among respondents, 91% reported having experienced mental health problems, of which 91% reported barriers to receiving mental health services. Students highlighted therapy and counseling as desired and saw flexible access to services as important. With respect to DMHIs, respondents had the most experience with physical health apps (46%), mental health questionnaires (41%), and mental well-being apps (39%). Most were unaware of or had not used apps or self-help programs for mental health problems. Students were most likely to report the following DMHIs as high priorities: a crisis text line (76%), telehealth (66%), websites for connecting to services (62%), and text/messaging with counselors (62%). They considered a self-help program with coach support to be convenient but some also perceived such services to be possibly less effective than in-person therapy. Conclusions: Students welcome DMHIs on campus and indicate preference for mental health services that include human support. The findings, with particular focus on characteristics of the DMHIs prioritized, and students' awareness and perceptions of scalable DMHIs emphasized by policymakers, should inform schools looking to implement DMHIs.
KW - College mental health
KW - Patient perceptions
KW - Self-help
KW - Service delivery
KW - Stakeholders
KW - Stepped care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127180137&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100528
DO - 10.1016/j.invent.2022.100528
M3 - Article
C2 - 35378846
AN - SCOPUS:85127180137
SN - 2214-7829
VL - 28
JO - Internet Interventions
JF - Internet Interventions
M1 - 100528
ER -