Barriers to Mental Health Treatment in United States College Students of Color

Objectives: In a national sample of college students, this study aimed to evaluate whether barriers to mental health treatment varied by race and ethnicity. Methods: Data were drawn from a large multicampus study conducted across 26 US colleges and universities. The sample (n = 5841) included students who screened positive for at least one mental health disorder and who were not currently receiving psychotherapy. Results: Black and Hispanic/Latine individuals showed a greater willingness to seek treatment than White individuals. However, Black and Hispanic/Latine individuals faced more financial barriers to treatment, whereas Hispanic/Latine individuals also showed a lower perceived importance of mental health. Asian American individuals preferred to handle their issues on their own or with support from family/friends and had lower readiness, willingness, and intentions to seek help than White individuals, with greater financial barriers as well. Conclusions: Disparities in unmet treatment need may arise from both distinct and common barriers, and point to the potential benefits of tailored intervention approaches to address the unique needs of students of color from varying racial/ethnic backgrounds. Policy implications: Addressing barriers to treatment may require policies that cater to the unique needs of different racial/ethnic groups. Keywords: barriers to treatment, mental health, unmet need, students of color, health disparities