Journal of Medical Sciences and Health Care Research
Assessing Formal Mental Health Help-Seeking Perceptions, and Attitudes Towards Campus-Based Mental Healthcare Services Amongst University Students in Rwanda
Abstract
Sandrine Ingabire and Kwame Norvixoxo
Mental health issues are prevalent among college students, but only a fraction of them seek professional mental health support. This is especially so in Africa where there is little to no sufficient mental health services. The lack of comprehensive data about prevalence further exacerbates the problem. The aim of this study is to assess perceptions, behaviour and attitudes towards formal mental health help-seeking behaviour among university students. The study used a mixed-method design and employed an online survey to collect data from 185 college students enrolled in 15 universities in Rwanda. A descriptive approach was used in analysing the data. The study found that the majority of students (61.6%) acknowledged the value of seeking help, and perceived mental disorders to be like any other medical illnesses. However, only 9.7% of that number sought professional help. Privacy concerns, trust issues and perceived lack of comfort when seeking help were the main justifications why they did not seek mental help support. Participants overall showed positive attitudes towards campus-based mental healthcare services. However, they are hesitant to patronise these services due to the unavailability of established wellness centres in some schools. Also, due to the limited number of trained mental health professionals in Rwanda, some of the wellness centres in these higher education institutions employ students. This could explain the trust and privacy concerns raised by the students. Consequently, they prefer informal ways of seeking help, such as talking to friends and family, as they deem them more trustworthy. However, none of the study participants could account for the sufficiency of this approach. The study recommends the use of digital platforms that will leverage access to professional mental healthcare in and outside of Rwanda for students.