Examining factors that drive health-related students to seek help for psychological challenges
4
Issued Date
2023-07-24
Resource Type
eISSN
20426372
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85165566589
Pubmed ID
37486183
Journal Title
International journal of medical education
Volume
14
Start Page
88
End Page
99
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International journal of medical education Vol.14 (2023) , 88-99
Suggested Citation
Sojindamanee N., Hongsanguansri S., Hataiyusuk S., Neelapaichit N., Suttapanit K., Jithavech P., Kiatrungrit K. Examining factors that drive health-related students to seek help for psychological challenges. International journal of medical education Vol.14 (2023) , 88-99. 99. doi:10.5116/ijme.64a7.bffb Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/88177
Title
Examining factors that drive health-related students to seek help for psychological challenges
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to find the prevalence of mental health problems and the rates of seeking mental health care among health-related students, as well as identifying factors associated with seeking mental health care. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among students from the Faculty of Medicine at a university in the 2021 academic year. A total of 832 students voluntarily completed an online survey measuring mental health problems and factors influencing mental health care seeking. Descriptive and analytic statistics including t-test, Pearson's chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis, were used to analyze the data. Results: Among the participants, 46.80% (n = 389) reported experiencing mental health problems, but only 16.97% (n = 66) of them sought mental health care. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that female (OR = 2.63 (1.08 - 6.43)) and LGBTQ (OR = 4.26 (1.36 - 13.37)) students, and those with a positive attitude toward professionals (OR = 1.10 (1.02 - 0.19)), were more likely to seek formal mental health care than those who did not. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that mental health problems are prevalent among health-related students, yet formal mental health care uptake is low. To address this issue, mental health screening programs, improved knowledge and attitudes about mental health care, and mental health training for academic staffs who work with health-related students are necessary. Future studies should explore interventions to increase the uptake of mental health services among health-related students.