(188d) Understanding Barriers to Mental Health Related Help-Seeking in Undergraduate Engineers

An increasing concern on college campuses is the prevalence of mental health disorders. Within engineering, there has been an increase in the amount of research conducted on characterizing student mental health and understanding the influence of engineering culture on mental wellness. Through analysis of national data from the Healthy Minds Study, it has been shown that distressed engineering students are less likely to have received professional help compared to their peers. This signifies a treatment gap for engineering students, meaning that only a portion of those in mental health distress seek professional treatment. Addressing the treatment gap can improve the prognosis of mental health problems and reduce progression to more chronic or severe disorders. Through this talk, I will present the results of a qualitative study aimed at better understanding the beliefs that engineering students have about seeking help for mental health concerns. In particular, I will discuss perceived barriers and facilitators to help-seeking and the three themes identified in the study, including challenges in navigating the mental healthcare system, the perception that help-seeking is a sacrifice of time and academics, and the importance of mental health culture in engineering. Results of this work will help provide guidance for intervention development to improve mental health related help-seeking among undergraduate engineering students. This is important for creating an equitable engineering learning environment that is supportive and inclusive of those in mental health distress.