Obstacles to Seeking Help: Perceived Barriers and Stigma Towards Mental Health Treatment in College Students at Elevated Risk for Psychosis

Aim

Although the college years are aligned with the typical age of onset of psychosis, few studies have examined identification and outreach programmes on college campuses. To inform future intervention targets and strategies, this study aimed to characterise treatment-seeking behaviours and attitudes, and perceived barriers to treatment in college students high in schizotypy.

Methods

A sample of 200 college students (139 high schizotypy; 61 low schizotypy) completed questionnaires related to treatment-seeking behaviours, attitudes and barriers. Independent samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to compare treatment-seeking behaviours, attitudes and barriers between schizotypy groups as well as among subgroups of those high in positive, negative and combined schizotypy.

Results

Students with elevated schizotypy not only reported higher rates of lifetime (56% vs. 36%) and recent (37% vs. 21%) treatment compared to those low in schizotypy, but also endorsed more negative attitudes towards help-seeking (d = 0.47). This latter finding was particularly true for those with primarily negative traits. The high schizotypy group also expressed greater concerns about embarrassment and fear of being treated differently related to treatment-seeking.

Conclusions

Although students with elevated schizotypy accessed treatment at higher rates, many remain untreated and report negative attitudes towards help-seeking. While not all students with elevated schizotypy require clinical intervention, these findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address stigma and improve help-seeking behaviours among college students. This may be especially true for those experiencing distress or impairment associated with schizotypal traits.