Young Adults' Mental Health Services: Access, Use & Barriers

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as "a condition of well-being in which one understands his or her own potential, can cope with everyday stressors, work, and contribute to his or her community" (Lee et al., 2015). Mental health well-being is a crucial aspect of young adults' lives, as it can affect their academic performance through low motivation, lack of focus, and social isolation, as well as their ability to become well-rounded, productive citizens. Many young people experience poor mental health primarily due to academic stress, witnessing or experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in their homes, social disadvantage, abuse, abandonment, and bullying (Kirker et al., 2022). Anxiety and depression are the two most commonly reported mental health challenges associated with this group.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of students seeking mental health services increased due to various disruptions that heightened their vulnerability to psychological distress (Lee et al., 2021). Students were forced to abandon in-person classrooms and transition to e-learning, which proved difficult — especially during the first few months. Many students struggled to stay engaged, while others lost employment, part-time jobs, and socializing opportunities.

Prior to the pandemic, very few studies focused on the mental health of students and young adults, as the research focus was primarily on older populations. Even though mental health problems among young people are often overlooked, a lack of effective intervention can lead to lasting harmful effects. Some young people develop behavioral problems, suicidal ideation, intrusive thoughts, substance abuse, and antisocial behaviors that prevent them from becoming socially competent adults (Appleton et al., 2021). In extreme cases, youth may attempt or complete suicide, particularly when they experience severe stress or traumatic events such as rape, cyberbullying, neglect, or physical abuse.

Over the years, many studies have focused on mental health services provided for adults without considering the distinct needs of young adults (Meherali et al., 2021). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, youth mental health gained greater attention because isolation worsened symptoms. Lockdowns recommended by the CDC caused many young people to remain indoors without face-to-face interaction. Many relied heavily on social media, which contributed to body image issues, depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and suicidal ideation in some cases (Hollis, 2022). Academic stress was also a significant issue, as students were required to rapidly adapt to technology-based learning environments. Longitudinal studies conducted during this period consistently found that student well-being had worsened as a result of the pandemic; students were more likely to experience depression or elevated anxiety compared to pre-pandemic levels. These studies did not, however, examine access to mental health services, since students were under lockdown during the pandemic period.

Although some students adapted quickly, many continue to recover from the negative consequences the pandemic had on their mental well-being. Unfortunately, mental health resources for these young people were limited. Many could not access services due to long wait times, as clinic specialists were unable to keep up with the surge in demand (Hollis, 2022). Others turned to virtual or online therapy, although the effectiveness of such services had not been thoroughly researched at the time.

In addition to inadequate resources and access difficulties, research shows that other factors — including stigmatization of mental health problems, poor interactions with practitioners, misconceptions, feelings of being judged, and shame — prevent young people from seeking mental health services (Appleton et al., 2021). As a result, many continue to experience worsening trauma symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Given the limited research focused specifically on youth mental health, it is critical to examine the needs of this group to ensure that appropriate resources are made available. This means first identifying the challenges young people encounter when seeking mental health services — both through conventional means and digital technologies — in order to design better support systems.

Recent studies confirm that little attention has been paid to mental health services available to young people, despite the lasting impacts of untreated mental health problems (Kirker et al., 2022). Evidence clearly shows that students experienced adverse psychological impacts following the pandemic, yet there is limited information on their utilization of mental health services. This study seeks to bridge that gap by investigating the challenges young people face when trying to access mental health services both online and offline. Some may hold negative attitudes toward such services, may be unaware that they exist, or may not consider them a priority. Others may have turned to unreliable virtual services without knowing their effectiveness. The research aims to recommend viable solutions to ensure that young people receive effective support to improve their well-being — for instance, by identifying the most effective digital services and informing the design of interventions tailored specifically to youth needs.

This study pursues three main objectives:

(i) To determine the extent to which college students and young adults with mental health issues utilize support services on their campuses and elsewhere.

(ii) To determine the level of satisfaction with mental health services among college students and young adults.

(iii) To identify the obstacles or barriers that hinder young people from utilizing mental health services both virtually and through conventional means.