Online Mental Health Help Seeking Behaviors Among College Students

Online Mental Health Help Seeking Behaviors Among College Students | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Online Mental Health Help Seeking Behaviors Among College Students Rachel L. Johnson, Monica Nandan, Brian Culp, Dominic Thomas This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3414531/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Summary : Even before the pandemic, utilization of online mental health resources continues to grow among young adults. There is limited research on online help seeking behaviors, let alone specific research on college students’ online mental health help seeking behaviors. This study aims to identify which terminology college students utilize on online search engines to seek assistance related to mental health. A cross-sectional survey design was used during the 2019-2020 academic year. The respondents consisted of 259 college students at one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the Southeastern United States. Findings : Overall, the sample data suggests that college students utilize general words such as mental health help, as well as specific symptoms and diagnoses, and words related to cost and insurance when searching online for mental health assistance. Applications : This data suggests online search word utilization for mental health has gender, racial, and age differences, which could further inform the way online search engines operate to provide adequate services for specific populations seeking help. online help seeking behaviors mental health college students online word search engines Introduction Since being exposed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the United States has seen an increasing concern for mental wellness. During late June 2020, 40% of adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse with 31% experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, 26% with trauma or stressor-related disorder symptoms, 13% with increased substance use, and 11% with suicidal ideations [ 1 ]. From August 2020 to February 2021, the number of people experiencing symptoms of anxiety, or a depressive disorder increased from 36.4–41.5% [ 2 ]. Specifically, 80% of students reported some level of depression during the pandemic [ 3 ]. Research indicates that Covid-19 mental health challenges have been associated with the morbidity of the disease, as well as the strict, but necessary, health guidelines in place, such as physical distancing and stay-at home orders [ 3 ]. As health guidelines were ordered throughout the nation, Americans were forced to revert to an online lifestyle. In April 2020, 51% of U.S workers reported working remotely due to Covid-19, and two-thirds of remote workers reported they wish to continue to do so, whether the pandemic continues or not [ 4 ]. Other aspects of life have also turned to online platforms, such as education, healthcare, and social events. With the nation adapting to current times, many people are left utilizing their technology to accommodate their needs. Research related to online help seeking behaviors appears very limited. When analyzing the generated websites that first appear when searching for mental health assistance, only a few of the websites that are available to young adults encourage them to seek professional evaluation [ 5 ]. Most of the search results are unmonitored chat forums. Other mental health search results attempt to reduce stigma, normalize psychotic symptoms, or are unrelated to mental health [ 5 ]. Individuals with mental health conditions also use search engines to learn about their symptoms. In one study conducted on search behaviors among individuals with psychosis, participants utilized only the top results from online searches which mentioned previously, do not provide adequate assistance [ 6 ]. Although many participants valued the accessibility to online mental health information, many stated that they did not discuss their online mental health discoveries with their clinicians [ 6 ]. Even before the pandemic, utilization of online mental health resources continues to grow among young adults. The need for online services is essential to support the large number of young adults experiencing mental health challenges. Even more so, young adults turn to online services due to face-to face services posing barriers to access, availability, and high cost, all of which are important factors on whether young adults seek assistance [ 7 ]. In addition, online services offer young adults a sense of security, providing them with autonomy, anonymity, and privacy [ 7 ]. Although few studies examine the effectiveness of online mental health services, understanding college students help seeking behaviors is an important first step in enhancing mental health and expanding access to appropriate care. The current study aims to identify online mental health seeking behaviors among college students. Although this study was conducted just months before the Covid-19 pandemic, results offer significant insight for colleges and mental health services as America continues to grow toward an online lifestyle. Methodology There is limited research on online help seeking behaviors, let alone specific research on college students’ online mental health help seeking behaviors. This study aims to identify which terminology college students utilize on online search engines to seek assistance related to mental health. Sample and Design A cross-sectional survey design methodology was used during the 2019–2020 academic year. The sample consisted of college students and 259 responded at one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the Southeastern United States. A questionnaire and an informed consent form (KSU IRB #19–521) were distributed at various campus events and to students in health and human services courses. Description of the sample is in Table 1 . Majority of participants were White (47%), female (50%), and between the ages of 18–25 (82%). Table 1 Demographics n % Age 18–25 213 82 26–40 20 8 41–65 7 3 No Answer 19 17 Gender Male 105 41 Female 130 50 Gender Variant/Non-Conforming 2 1 Transgender Female 1 0.4 No Answer 21 8 Race White 121 47 Black 68 26 Multi-Racial 19 7 Hispanic/Latino 15 6 Asian 8 3 Pacific Islander 1 0.4 Other 1 0.4 No Answer 26 10 Measures and Analyses The survey instrument was a 10-item questionnaire comprised of both open and closed-ended questions. The questionnaire evaluated help seeking behaviors, however, this article focuses specifically on online mental health seeking behaviors among college students. Participants were invited to share terms they would use for conducting online searches to identify resources to help themselves, or someone they know with emotional or mental health issues. These open-ended responses were labeled using open coding and grouped into eight themes which are depicted in Table 2. Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel. The pivot table application in Excel was used to conduct cross tabulations. Demographic variables were rescaled into polytomous variables. Two sample equal variance t-tests were conducted using alpha level of 0.05 to identify statistically significant differences in responses across different demographic groups. Findings A quarter of the respondents would use the words “mental health help” or similar words to identify mental health resources, as well as words related to specific services. Other frequently used terms pertained to symptoms and diagnoses (19%) or cost and insurance (13%). Females were more likely to search for specific services (45%) and symptoms (25%), compared to males (30% and 23%, respectively). There was a significant association between males and females for the category specific services (p < .05). Males were more likely to use the words “mental health help” (46%), compared to females (34%). Specific locations (18%) and self-help (24%) were most likely to be searched by females. Hispanic (53%) and White (47%) participants were more likely to use the words “mental health help” or similar words in their online search, whereas multiracial participants (53%) were more likely to seek specific services, and Asian Americans were more likely to use location specific searches (25%) and self-help word choices (38%) compared to other races. There was a significant association between White (47%) and Black (28%) respondents for category mental health help (p < .01) and cost/insurance (2% and 9%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Black (43%), Asian (50%), and multiracial (53%) participants appeared to utilize words related to specific services more than any other word choice category. Younger respondents (18–25 years) were cost sensitive and used words related to cost and insurance more than other age groups. For the category location, the ages 18–25 (14%) and 41–65 (57%) were significantly associated (p < .01), as well as the ages 26 to 40 (10%) and 41 to 65 (57%) (p < 0.01). Respondents between the ages of 41–65 were the most likely to seek location specific services or use general terms related to mental health help (57%). The age group 26–40 was most likely to use specific services (55%), symptoms or diagnoses (35%) and self-help (30%) in their searches compared to the other age groups. For the category mental health help, the ages 18–25 (38%) and 26–40 (35%) were significantly associated (p < .05), as well as the ages 26–40 (35%) and 41–65 (57%) (p < .05). Table 2. Online Help Seeking Word Search n % Specific Services 128 25 Mental Health Help 126 25 Symptoms/Diagnosis 97 19 Cost/Insurance 66 13 Location 43 8 Other 28 5 Specific Website 15 3 Self-help 11 2 Total 514 100 Note. The frequency count may be more than sample size due to multiple open-ended responses. The total possible range for answers is 259 x 5 blanks, meaning there is a chance for 1295 answers for each category. Discussion Although research on college students’ online help seeking behaviors is limited, results from this study provide some interesting insights. Overall, the data suggests that college students utilize general words such as mental health help, as well as, specific symptoms and diagnoses, and words related to cost and insurance when searching online for mental health assistance. When looking at gender differences, females are more likely to use specific word choices pertaining to symptoms and diagnoses, while males used more general terminology. This finding could be useful when targeting gender specific audiences for mental health resources on the internet. Additionally, females were more likely than males to search for self-help remedies than males, and there is little research to compare these findings to. However, these findings could be related to perceived stigma around mental health help-seeking behavior and men’s lack of knowledge surrounding self-care practices [ 8 ]. When looking at racial differences, Black, Asian, and multiracial participants utilized words related to specific services more than any other word choice category, which is interesting as research indicates racial and ethnic minority groups generally have low mental health literacy [ 9 ]. Furthermore, younger respondents were more likely to use words related to cost and insurance, while middle aged respondents leaned towards self-help word choices. Concerns regarding cost and insurance among younger respondents are like discourses by Yelpaze and Ceyhan [ 10 ]; however, much research describes older adults having positive attitudes towards help-seeking behavior [ 11 , 12 ]. Therefore, in this study, middle aged responses towards utilizing self-help may be based on expanding their mental health care while also utilizing professional help. Limitations Although this exploratory study aimed to contribute to the literature on college students and their online mental health seeking behaviors, this study had several limitations including small sample size, unrepresentative demographics for the population, and respondent bias. Lastly, human error is possible, as the data was typed into excel. Implications of Study More research needs to be done on college students’ help seeking behavior on online platforms. This is especially important as Covid-19 has caused many Americans to revert to a virtual lifestyle. Even more so, 75% of all mental illness onsets by age 24, and 47% of young adults (aged 20 to 39 years) utilize the internet for health information [ 13 , 14 ]. This data suggest online search word utilization for mental health has gender, racial, and age differences, which could further inform the way online search engines operate to provide adequate services for specific populations seeking help, as well as informing how social workers and human service organizations tailor their online platforms to reach these populations. A collaboration among social workers and web designers would enhance this process to expand outreach of online mental health services. Conclusion Since entering unprecedented times due to Covid-19, living in a virtual world has become normalized, and the need for online mental health services has become essential. This study provides insight on gender, racial, and age differences on college students online mental health help seeking behaviors, however, this is just the starting point in providing adequate online mental health services. Declarations Funding This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Declaration of conflicting interests Neither I nor any person associated with this paper have a significant financial arrangement or affiliation with any product, service, facility, or person used or discussed in this paper, nor any potential bias against another product, service, facility, or person. Ethical Approval A signed informed consent form was obtained by participants before they participated in the questionnaire. Kennesaw State University Institutional Review Board provided approval (KSU IRB #19-521) for this study. Availability of Data and Materials This declaration is not applicable. Acknowledgements We would like to give special thanks to Kristen Roberson, a graduate writing coach for the Kennesaw State University (KSU) writing center, who assisted with the editing process of this paper and provided substantial feedback. We would also like to thank Holly Chandler, a technical support analyst at KSU, for assisting us in all things Excel, and all the faculty members and campus partners who distributed the questionnaire. References Czeisler, M. É., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., ... & Rajaratnam, S. M. (2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, June 24–30, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , 69 (32), 1049. Vahratian, A., Blumberg, S. J., Terlizzi, E. P., & Schiller, J. S. (2021). Symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder and use of mental health care among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic—United States, August 2020–February 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , 70 (13), 490. Wang, X., Hegde, S., Son, C., Keller, B., Smith, A., & Sasangohar, F. (2020). Investigating mental health of US college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional survey study. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(9), e22817. Brenan, M. (2021). COVID-19 and Remote Work: An Update . Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/321800/covid-remote-work-update.aspx. Birnbaum, M. L., Candan, K., Libby, I., Pascucci, O., & Kane, J. (2016). Impact of online resources and social media on help-seeking behavior in youth with psychotic symptoms. Early Intervention in Psychiatry , 10 (5), 397–403. https://doi-org.proxy.kennesaw.edu/10.1111/eip.12179 Aref-Adib, G., O’Hanlon, P., Fullarton, K., Morant, N., Sommerlad, A., Johnson, S., & Osborn, D. (2016). A qualitative study of online mental health information seeking behavior by those with psychosis. BMC Psychiatry , 16 , 232. Kauer, S. D., Mangan, C., & Sanci, L. (2014). Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(3), e66. Wendt, D., & Shafer, K. (2016). Gender and Attitudes about Mental Health Help Seeking: Results from National Data. Health & Social Work, 41(1), e20–e28. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlv089 Crisanti, A. S., Luo, L., McFaul, M., Silverblatt, H., & Pyeatt, C. (2016). Impact of mental health first aid on confidence related to mental health literacy: A national study with a focus on race-ethnicity. Psychiatric Services, 67(3), 350-353. Yelpaze, I., & Ceyhan, A. A. (2019). University Students’ Perceptions about Psychological Help Seeking: A Qualitative Study. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences , 11(1), 123–139. Currin, J. B., Schneider, L. J., Hayslip Jr B., & Kooken, R. A. (1998). Cohort differences in attitudes toward mental health services among older persons. Psychotherapy, 35, 506–518. Robb, C., Haley, W. E., Becker, M. A., Polivka, L. A., & Chwa, H.-J. (2003). Attitudes towards mental health care in younger and older adults: Similarities and differences. Aging & Mental Health, 7, 142–152. Reavley, Nicola, and Anthony F. Jorm. “Prevention and Early Intervention to Improve Mental Health in Higher Education Students: A Review.” Early Intervention in Psychiatry 4, no. 2 (2010): 132–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00167.x. Ybarra, M. and Suman, M. (2008). Reasons, assessments, and actions taken: Sex and age differences in uses of internet health information. Health Education Research, 23(3), 512-521. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3414531","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":240339840,"identity":"43f43dab-fdf0-4783-9425-d89e235670fb","order_by":0,"name":"Rachel L. 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During late June 2020, 40% of adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse with 31% experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, 26% with trauma or stressor-related disorder symptoms, 13% with increased substance use, and 11% with suicidal ideations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. From August 2020 to February 2021, the number of people experiencing symptoms of anxiety, or a depressive disorder increased from 36.4\u0026ndash;41.5% [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Specifically, 80% of students reported some level of depression during the pandemic [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. Research indicates that Covid-19 mental health challenges have been associated with the morbidity of the disease, as well as the strict, but necessary, health guidelines in place, such as physical distancing and stay-at home orders [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. As health guidelines were ordered throughout the nation, Americans were forced to revert to an online lifestyle. In April 2020, 51% of U.S workers reported working remotely due to Covid-19, and two-thirds of remote workers reported they wish to continue to do so, whether the pandemic continues or not [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Other aspects of life have also turned to online platforms, such as education, healthcare, and social events. With the nation adapting to current times, many people are left utilizing their technology to accommodate their needs.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eResearch related to online help seeking behaviors appears very limited. When analyzing the generated websites that first appear when searching for mental health assistance, only a few of the websites that are available to young adults encourage them to seek professional evaluation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Most of the search results are unmonitored chat forums. Other mental health search results attempt to reduce stigma, normalize psychotic symptoms, or are unrelated to mental health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. Individuals with mental health conditions also use search engines to learn about their symptoms. In one study conducted on search behaviors among individuals with psychosis, participants utilized only the top results from online searches which mentioned previously, do not provide adequate assistance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Although many participants valued the accessibility to online mental health information, many stated that they did not discuss their online mental health discoveries with their clinicians [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEven before the pandemic, utilization of online mental health resources continues to grow among young adults. The need for online services is essential to support the large number of young adults experiencing mental health challenges. Even more so, young adults turn to online services due to face-to face services posing barriers to access, availability, and high cost, all of which are important factors on whether young adults seek assistance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, online services offer young adults a sense of security, providing them with autonomy, anonymity, and privacy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Although few studies examine the effectiveness of online mental health services, understanding college students help seeking behaviors is an important first step in enhancing mental health and expanding access to appropriate care. The current study aims to identify online mental health seeking behaviors among college students. Although this study was conducted just months before the Covid-19 pandemic, results offer significant insight for colleges and mental health services as America continues to grow toward an online lifestyle.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methodology","content":"\u003cp\u003eThere is limited research on online help seeking behaviors, let alone specific research on college students\u0026rsquo; online mental health help seeking behaviors. This study aims to identify which terminology college students utilize on online search engines to seek assistance related to mental health.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSample and Design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional survey design methodology was used during the 2019\u0026ndash;2020 academic year. The sample consisted of college students and 259 responded at one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the Southeastern United States. A questionnaire and an informed consent form (KSU IRB #19\u0026ndash;521) were distributed at various campus events and to students in health and human services courses.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescription of the sample is in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. Majority of participants were White (47%), female (50%), and between the ages of 18\u0026ndash;25 (82%).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDemographics\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e%\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u0026ndash;25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e213\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u0026ndash;40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u0026ndash;65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo Answer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e105\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGender Variant/Non-Conforming\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTransgender Female\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo Answer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRace\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlack\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMulti-Racial\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHispanic/Latino\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAsian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePacific Islander\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo Answer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMeasures and Analyses\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe survey instrument was a 10-item questionnaire comprised of both open and closed-ended questions. The questionnaire evaluated help seeking behaviors, however, this article focuses specifically on online mental health seeking behaviors among college students. Participants were invited to share terms they would use for conducting online searches to identify resources to help themselves, or someone they know with emotional or mental health issues. These open-ended responses were labeled using open coding and grouped into eight themes which are depicted in Table\u0026nbsp;2.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStatistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel. The pivot table application in Excel was used to conduct cross tabulations. Demographic variables were rescaled into polytomous variables. Two sample equal variance t-tests were conducted using alpha level of 0.05 to identify statistically significant differences in responses across different demographic groups.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Findings","content":"\u003cp\u003eA quarter of the respondents would use the words \u0026ldquo;mental health help\u0026rdquo; or similar words to identify mental health resources, as well as words related to specific services. Other frequently used terms pertained to symptoms and diagnoses (19%) or cost and insurance (13%). Females were more likely to search for specific services (45%) and symptoms (25%), compared to males (30% and 23%, respectively). There was a significant association between males and females for the category specific services (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05). Males were more likely to use the words \u0026ldquo;mental health help\u0026rdquo; (46%), compared to females (34%). Specific locations (18%) and self-help (24%) were most likely to be searched by females.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHispanic (53%) and White (47%) participants were more likely to use the words \u0026ldquo;mental health help\u0026rdquo; or similar words in their online search, whereas multiracial participants (53%) were more likely to seek specific services, and Asian Americans were more likely to use location specific searches (25%) and self-help word choices (38%) compared to other races. There was a significant association between White (47%) and Black (28%) respondents for category mental health help (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.01) and cost/insurance (2% and 9%, respectively) (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Black (43%), Asian (50%), and multiracial (53%) participants appeared to utilize words related to specific services more than any other word choice category.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYounger respondents (18\u0026ndash;25 years) were cost sensitive and used words related to cost and insurance more than other age groups. For the category location, the ages 18\u0026ndash;25 (14%) and 41\u0026ndash;65 (57%) were significantly associated (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.01), as well as the ages 26 to 40 (10%) and 41 to 65 (57%) (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). Respondents between the ages of 41\u0026ndash;65 were the most likely to seek location specific services or use general terms related to mental health help (57%). The age group 26\u0026ndash;40 was most likely to use specific services (55%), symptoms or diagnoses (35%) and self-help (30%) in their searches compared to the other age groups. For the category mental health help, the ages 18\u0026ndash;25 (38%) and 26\u0026ndash;40 (35%) were significantly associated (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05), as well as the ages 26\u0026ndash;40 (35%) and 41\u0026ndash;65 (57%) (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.05).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\n \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTable 2. Online Help Seeking Word Search\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e\n \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e%\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecific Services\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e128\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eMental Health Help\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e126\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSymptoms/Diagnosis\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eCost/Insurance\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e66\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLocation\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e43\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOther\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSpecific Website\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSelf-help\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e514\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote.\u003c/em\u003e The frequency count may be more than sample size due to multiple open-ended responses. The total possible range for answers is 259 x 5 blanks, meaning there is a chance for 1295 answers for each category.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough research on college students\u0026rsquo; online help seeking behaviors is limited, results from this study provide some interesting insights. Overall, the data suggests that college students utilize general words such as mental health help, as well as, specific symptoms and diagnoses, and words related to cost and insurance when searching online for mental health assistance. When looking at gender differences, females are more likely to use specific word choices pertaining to symptoms and diagnoses, while males used more general terminology. This finding could be useful when targeting gender specific audiences for mental health resources on the internet. Additionally, females were more likely than males to search for self-help remedies than males, and there is little research to compare these findings to. However, these findings could be related to perceived stigma around mental health help-seeking behavior and men\u0026rsquo;s lack of knowledge surrounding self-care practices [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. When looking at racial differences, Black, Asian, and multiracial participants utilized words related to specific services more than any other word choice category, which is interesting as research indicates racial and ethnic minority groups generally have low mental health literacy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, younger respondents were more likely to use words related to cost and insurance, while middle aged respondents leaned towards self-help word choices. Concerns regarding cost and insurance among younger respondents are like discourses by Yelpaze and Ceyhan [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]; however, much research describes older adults having positive attitudes towards help-seeking behavior [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, in this study, middle aged responses towards utilizing self-help may be based on expanding their mental health care while also utilizing professional help.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLimitations\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough this exploratory study aimed to contribute to the literature on college students and their online mental health seeking behaviors, this study had several limitations including small sample size, unrepresentative demographics for the population, and respondent bias. Lastly, human error is possible, as the data was typed into excel.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eImplications of Study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMore research needs to be done on college students\u0026rsquo; help seeking behavior on online platforms. This is especially important as Covid-19 has caused many Americans to revert to a virtual lifestyle. Even more so, 75% of all mental illness onsets by age 24, and 47% of young adults (aged 20 to 39 years) utilize the internet for health information [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. This data suggest online search word utilization for mental health has gender, racial, and age differences, which could further inform the way online search engines operate to provide adequate services for specific populations seeking help, as well as informing how social workers and human service organizations tailor their online platforms to reach these populations. A collaboration among social workers and web designers would enhance this process to expand outreach of online mental health services.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eSince entering unprecedented times due to Covid-19, living in a virtual world has become normalized, and the need for online mental health services has become essential. This study provides insight on gender, racial, and age differences on college students online mental health help seeking behaviors, however, this is just the starting point in providing adequate online mental health services.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeclaration of conflicting interests\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeither I nor any person associated with this paper have a significant financial arrangement or affiliation with any product, service, facility, or person used or discussed in this paper, nor any potential bias against another product, service, facility, or person.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical Approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA signed informed consent form was obtained by participants before they participated in the questionnaire. Kennesaw State University Institutional Review Board provided approval (KSU IRB #19-521) for this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of Data and Materials\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis declaration is not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would like to give special thanks to Kristen Roberson, a graduate writing coach for the Kennesaw State University (KSU) writing center, who assisted with the editing process of this paper and provided substantial feedback. We would also like to thank Holly Chandler, a technical support analyst at KSU, for assisting us in all things Excel, and all the faculty members and campus partners who distributed the questionnaire.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCzeisler, M. \u0026Eacute;., Lane, R. I., Petrosky, E., Wiley, J. F., Christensen, A., Njai, R., ... \u0026amp; Rajaratnam, S. M. (2020). Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic\u0026mdash;United States, June 24\u0026ndash;30, 2020. \u003cem\u003eMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e69\u003c/em\u003e(32), 1049.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVahratian, A., Blumberg, S. J., Terlizzi, E. P., \u0026amp; Schiller, J. S. (2021). Symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder and use of mental health care among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic\u0026mdash;United States, August 2020\u0026ndash;February 2021. \u003cem\u003eMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e70\u003c/em\u003e(13), 490.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWang, X., Hegde, S., Son, C., Keller, B., Smith, A., \u0026amp; Sasangohar, F. (2020). Investigating mental health of US college students during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional survey study. Journal of medical Internet research, 22(9), e22817.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrenan, M. (2021). \u003cem\u003eCOVID-19 and Remote Work: An Update\u003c/em\u003e. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/321800/covid-remote-work-update.aspx.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBirnbaum, M. L., Candan, K., Libby, I., Pascucci, O., \u0026amp; Kane, J. (2016). Impact of online resources and social media on help-seeking behavior in youth with psychotic symptoms. \u003cem\u003eEarly Intervention in Psychiatry\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e10\u003c/em\u003e(5), 397\u0026ndash;403. https://doi-org.proxy.kennesaw.edu/10.1111/eip.12179\u003cu\u003e \u003c/u\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAref-Adib, G., O\u0026rsquo;Hanlon, P., Fullarton, K., Morant, N., Sommerlad, A., Johnson, S., \u0026amp; Osborn, D. (2016). A qualitative study of online mental health information seeking behavior by those with psychosis. \u003cem\u003eBMC Psychiatry\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e16\u003c/em\u003e, 232.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKauer, S. D., Mangan, C., \u0026amp; Sanci, L. (2014). Do online mental health services improve help-seeking for young people? A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(3), e66.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWendt, D., \u0026amp; Shafer, K. (2016). Gender and Attitudes about Mental Health Help Seeking: Results from National Data. Health \u0026amp; Social Work, 41(1), e20\u0026ndash;e28. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlv089\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrisanti, A. S., Luo, L., McFaul, M., Silverblatt, H., \u0026amp; Pyeatt, C. (2016). Impact of mental health first aid on confidence related to mental health literacy: A national study with a focus on race-ethnicity. Psychiatric Services, 67(3), 350-353.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYelpaze, I., \u0026amp; Ceyhan, A. A. (2019). University Students\u0026rsquo; Perceptions about Psychological Help Seeking: A Qualitative Study. \u003cem\u003eInternational Online Journal of Educational Sciences\u003c/em\u003e, 11(1), 123\u0026ndash;139. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCurrin, J. B., Schneider, L. J., Hayslip Jr B., \u0026amp; Kooken, R. A. (1998). Cohort differences in attitudes toward mental health services among older persons. Psychotherapy, 35, 506\u0026ndash;518.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRobb, C., Haley, W. E., Becker, M. A., Polivka, L. A., \u0026amp; Chwa, H.-J. (2003). Attitudes towards mental health care in younger and older adults: Similarities and differences. Aging \u0026amp; Mental Health, 7, 142\u0026ndash;152.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReavley, Nicola, and Anthony F. Jorm. \u0026ldquo;Prevention and Early Intervention to Improve Mental Health in Higher Education Students: A Review.\u0026rdquo; \u003cem\u003eEarly Intervention in Psychiatry\u003c/em\u003e 4, no. 2 (2010): 132\u0026ndash;42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-7893.2010.00167.x.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYbarra, M. and Suman, M. (2008). Reasons, assessments, and actions taken: Sex and age differences in uses of internet health information. \u003cem\u003eHealth Education Research, \u003c/em\u003e23(3), 512-521.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"online help seeking behaviors, mental health, college students, online word search engines","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3414531/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3414531/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary\u003c/strong\u003e: Even before the pandemic, utilization of online mental health resources continues to grow among young adults. There is limited research on online help seeking behaviors, let alone specific research on college students’ online mental health help seeking behaviors. This study aims to identify which terminology college students utilize on online search engines to seek assistance related to mental health. A cross-sectional survey design was used during the 2019-2020 academic year. The respondents consisted of 259 college students at one of the 50 largest public institutions of higher education in the Southeastern United States.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFindings\u003c/strong\u003e: Overall, the sample data suggests that college students utilize general words such as mental health help, as well as specific symptoms and diagnoses, and words related to cost and insurance when searching online for mental health assistance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplications\u003c/strong\u003e: This data suggests online search word utilization for mental health has gender, racial, and age differences, which could further inform the way online search engines operate to provide adequate services for specific populations seeking help.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Online Mental Health Help Seeking Behaviors Among College Students","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2023-10-18 15:36:04","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3414531/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"39402398-c89f-425c-8a5e-0e1212b2cb1d","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 18th, 2023","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2023-10-18T15:36:06+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2023-10-18 15:36:04","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3414531","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3414531","identity":"rs-3414531","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"FbvkV6FR0MCFSLy54lSbu","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}