Author(s)

Caitlin B. Holden^1*, Brinda Kalra¹, Krishnan Bargavi², Andrea McDonald², Elisa Beth McNeill¹, Kelly L. Wilson³

¹School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
²School of Public and Allied Health, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA.
³College of Nursing, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.

Background: Mental health is vital for overall well-being, influencing thoughts, emotions, and actions. Suicide rates, notably among 18 - 25-year-olds, have risen by 35% since 1999, with males disproportionately affected. Texas’ low mental health spending exacerbates college students’ struggles, accentuated by pandemic-induced isolation. Innovative interventions, specifically new approaches that aim to improve the health and well-being of people with mental health conditions such as telehealth offer unique solutions. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted to understand factors influencing college students’ mental health service utilization. Analysis of 23 articles revealed barriers such as campus services and accessibility, awareness, and service delivery times, along with stigma and cultural norms. Results: From the initial pool, 23 studies were included, highlighting factors impacting service utilization. These encompass campus services and accessibility, awareness, and service delivery times, as well as stigma and cultural norms. Conclusions: This review underscores the need for tailored programmatic and resource initiatives in college mental health. While current efforts focus on counseling, diversifying approaches is vital. The lack of research on alternative resources is concerning given students’ mental health challenges. Further investigation is crucial to support their diverse needs.

College Health, Mental Health, Peer-led Initiatives, Innovative Interventions

Holden, C.B., Kalra, B., Bargavi, K., McDonald, A., McNeill, E.B. and Wilson, K.L. (2025) The Mental Health Status and Service Utilization among College Students: A Scoping Review. Open Access Library Journal, 12, 1-16. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1112176.