How Do Hong Kong University Students Perceive And Seek Help For Their Mental Health? A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Mental health issues among university students remain a global concern and have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study contributes to the exploration of this public health issue by examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mental health and school-based mental health services among undergraduate and postgraduate students at a university in Hong Kong SAR. Utilizing a descriptive qualitative design, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 university students. Our study found that, while most participants demonstrated advanced understanding of mental health, some still associated the concept with mental illness or disorders. Additionally, most participants held positive attitudes on the importance of seeking help when experiencing mental health challenges, yet they appeared to express reluctance in utilizing school-based mental health services in times of need. Our findings further revealed that participants engaged in a three-tier pathway when addressing mental health issues, characterized by distinct levels of intervention: (1) utilizing intrapersonal coping strategies, (2) seeking informal social support, and (3) accessing school-based mental health services. We provided practical and policy recommendations for universities to enhance the available mental health support for students. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the mental health of students in higher education.