ERIC Number: ED640307
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 113
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3808-7252-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Student Barriers and Mental Illness within Higher Education Institutions: A Qualitative Case Study Design
Peggy Carter
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Northcentral University
Despite mental illness related to learning, social life, and overall well-being being prevalent among students, college students may not feel comfortable disclosing their mental health issues due to stigmas and campus barriers. Consequently, a high number of students experience mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and self-harming, impacting their academic outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of post-secondary students regarding mental health issues due to stigmas and campus barriers. This study was framed using critical disability theory. The study addressed the research questions regarding the obstacles these students experience that prevent help seeking and strategies that would allow them to report their mental illnesses. Ten participants were recruited from a closed group on a social media platform using purposeful sampling. The participants were aged 18 to 24 years, attended or had been enrolled in a postsecondary institution, and had been diagnosed with a mental health illness. The participants completed an online survey and an interview with open-ended and semi-structured questions. Data collected were analyzed following six-steps of thematic analysis process. In total, two main themes and six sub-themes emerged from the data. For the first research question, the results showed that postsecondary students feel that faculty members talk about them, see them differently, and do not accept them. For the second research question, the strategies include education and creating awareness about mental health illness, ensuring support facilities and services meet their needs, and keeping information confidential. The findings of this study can help academic institutions and administrators promote programs and advocacies regarding mental illnesses to help students feel more comfortable disclosing their disabilities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Mental Disorders, Barriers, College Students, Mental Health, Student Attitudes, Social Bias, Negative Attitudes, Student Experience, Help Seeking
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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