Graduate Student Mental Health: Needs Assessment and Utilization of Counseling Services

This study examined the mental health needs, knowledge, and utilization of counseling services among graduate students at a large university in the western United States. Almost half of graduate student respondents reported having had an emotional or stress related problem over the past year, and ov...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of college student development 2006-05, Vol.47 (3), p.247-266
Main Authors: Hyun, Jenny K, Quinn, Brian C, Madon, Temina, Lustig, Steve
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Behavioral Science Research
Career Development
Case Studies
Cognition
College students
Correlation
Counseling
Counseling Services
Depression (Psychology)
Emotions
Ethnicity
Faculty Advisers
Gender Differences
Graduate Students
Graduate studies
Measurement Techniques
Mental depression
Mental Health
Mental Health Programs
Needs analysis
Needs Assessment
Race
Respondents
Stress
Student Surveys
Students
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Study
Well Being
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Summary:This study examined the mental health needs, knowledge, and utilization of counseling services among graduate students at a large university in the western United States. Almost half of graduate student respondents reported having had an emotional or stress related problem over the past year, and over half reported knowing a colleague who had an emotional or stress-related problem over the past year. Self-reported mental health needs were significantly and negatively related to confidence about one's financial status, higher functional relationship with one's advisor, regular contact with friends, and being married. Utilization of counseling services was positively associated with an index of depression symptoms, the number of semesters in school, and identifying as female. Those students who had experienced a significant mental health event in the past year and had higher functional relationships with their advisors were significantly more likely to utilize counseling services. Findings suggest a need for increased attention to graduate student mental health needs, especially the role of financial confidence in student well-being and the relationship of graduate students with their advisors. (Contains 4 tables.)
ISSN:0897-5264
1543-3382
1543-3382
DOI:10.1353/csd.2006.0030