Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

University students’ intentions to seek psychological counseling, attitudes toward seeking psychological help, and stigma

  • Research
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Mental health problems are prevalent among university students worldwide. Studies have shown that most students do not disclose and do not get the psychological help and support they need.

Objectives

This survey aims to investigate the intentions to seek psychological counseling (ISC) among university students, their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH), and the predictors of those intentions and attitudes including stigma. Design and methods: a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 420 students at the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Results

Depression, test anxiety, and difficulty sleeping are the three main reasons students would seek psychological help. The source the students most preferred to ask for help was one’s family followed by psychologists and psychiatrists. Students’ ATSPPH is a positive predictor of their ISC, while students’ self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) is a negative predictor of their ATSPPH. Moreover, students’ awareness of the psychological help system available on campus, free of charge, is a positive predictor for both ISC and ATSPPH.

Conclusion

Different interventions are needed to reduce stigma and enhance students’ mental health literacy and awareness of the available professional psychological help on campus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Material availability

Research materials are available from the corresponding author on request.

Data Availability

They are available with the corresponding author Dr. Najla Lakkis.

References

  1. GBD 2019 Mental Disorders Collaborators (2022) Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Psychiatry 9(2):137–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00395-3

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. GBD 2019 Adolescent Mortality Collaborators (2021) Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10–24 years, 1950–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet 398(10311):1593–1618. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01546-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nochaiwong S, Ruengorn C, Thavorn K, Hutton B, Awiphan R, Phosuya C, Ruanta Y, Wongpakaran N, Wongpakaran T (2021) Global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 11(1):10173. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89700-8. (Published 2021 May 13)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Evans-Lacko S, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Al-Hamzawi A, Alonso J, Benjet C, Bruffaerts R, Chiu WT, Florescu S, de Girolamo G, Gureje O, Haro JM, He Y, Hu C, Karam EG, Kawakami N, Lee S, Lund C, Kovess-Masfety V, Levinson D, Navarro-Mateu F, Pennell BE, Sampson NA, Scott KM, Tachimori H, Ten Have M, Viana MC, Williams DR, Wojtyniak BJ, Zarkov Z, Kessler RC, Chatterji S, Thornicroft G (2018) Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Psychol Med 48(9):1560–1571. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291717003336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) Facts sheets. Depression. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression [accessed on Mar 30, 2022]

  6. Kessler RC, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Alonso J, Chatterji S, Lee S, Ormel J, Ustün TB, Wang PS (2009) The global burden of mental disorders: an update from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc 18(1):23–33. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1121189x00001421

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. World Health Organization (WHO) (2014) Mental health: strengthening our response. Fact sheet N°220. World Health Organization. Updated August. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/ [accessed on Jul 11, 2015]

  8. Bilsen J (2018) Suicide and youth: risk factors. Front Psychiatry 9:540. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00540

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. World Health Organization (WHO) (2021) Facts sheets. Suicide. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression [accessed on Mar 30, 2022]

  10. World Health Organization (2014) Preventing suicide: a global imperative. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564779 [accessed on Mar 30, 2022]

  11. Eskin M, Sun JM, Abuidhail J, Yoshimasu K, Kujan O, Janghorbani M, Flood C, Carta MG, Tran US, Mechri A, Hamdan M, Poyrazli S, Aidoudi K, Bakhshi S, Harlak H, Moro MF, Nawafleh H, Phillips L, Shaheen A, Taifour S, Tsuno K, Voracek M (2016) Suicidal behavior and psychological distress in university students: a 12-nation study. Arch Suicide Res 20(3):369–388. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1054055

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Auerbach RP, Alonso J, Axinn WG, Cuijpers P, Ebert DD, Green JG, Hwang I, Kessler RC, Liu H, Mortier P, Nock MK, Pinder-Amaker S, Sampson NA, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Al-Hamzawi A, Andrade LH, Benjet C, Caldas-de-Almeida JM, Demyttenaere K, Florescu S, de Girolamo G, Gureje O, Haro JM, Karam EG, Kiejna A, Kovess-Masfety V, Lee S, McGrath JJ, O’Neill S, Pennell BE, Scott K, Ten Have M, Torres Y, Zaslavsky AM, Zarkov Z, Bruffaerts R (2016) Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. Psychol Med 46(14):2955–2970. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001665

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Auerbach RP, Mortier P, Bruffaerts R, Alonso J, Benjet C, Cuijpers P, Demyttenaere K, Ebert DD, Green JG, Hasking P, Murray E, Nock MK, Pinder-Amaker S, Sampson NA, Stein DJ, Vilagut G, Zaslavsky AM, Kessler RC, WHO WMH-ICS Collaborators (2018) WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project: prevalence and distribution of mental disorders. J Abnorm Psychol 127(7):623–638. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000362

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Granieri A, Franzoi IG, Chung MC (2021) Editorial: psychological distress among university students. Front Psychol 12:647940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.647940

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Storrie K, Ahern K, Tuckett A (2010) A systematic review: students with mental health problems–a growing problem. Int J Nurs Pract 16(1):1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2009.01813.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Eisenberg D, Golberstein E, Gollust SE (2007) Help-seeking and access to mental health care in a university student population. Med Care 45(7):594–601. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0b013e31803bb4c1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Theurel A, Witt A (2022) Identifying barriers to mental health help-seeking in french university students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Creat Educ 13:437–449. https://doi.org/10.4236/ce.2022.132025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. The University of Nottingham (2011) Investigation into the Mental Health Help needs of International Students with particular reference to Chinese and Malaysian students. The University of Nottingham. https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices/documents/investigation-into-the-mental-health-help--needs-of-international-students-with-particular-reference-to-chinese-and-malaysian-students.pdf [accessed on Jul 11, 2015]

  19. Collins ME, Mowbray CT (2005) Higher education and psychiatric disabilities: national survey of campus disability services. Am J Orthopsychiatry 75(2):304–315. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.75.2.304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenthal B, Wilson WC (2008) Mental health services: use and disparity among diverse college students. J Am Coll Health 57(1):61–68. https://doi.org/10.3200/JACH.57.1.61-68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. O’Connor PJ, Martin B, Weeks CS, Ong L (2014) Factors that influence young people’s mental health help-seeking behaviour: a study based on the Health Belief Model. J Adv Nurs 70(11):2577–2587. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Thorley C (2017) Not By Degrees: Not by degrees: improving student mental health in the UK’s universities. IPPR, London

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mitchell C, McMillan B, Hagan T (2017) Mental health help-seeking behaviours in young adults. Br J Gen Pract 67(654):8–9. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X688453

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Sagar-Ouriaghli I, Godfrey E, Bridge L, Meade L, Brown JSL (2019) Improving mental health service utilization among men: a systematic review and synthesis of behavior change techniques within interventions targeting help-seeking. Am J Mens Health 13(3):1557988319857009. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988319857009

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Staiger T, Stiawa M, Mueller-Stierlin AS, Kilian R, Beschoner P, Gündel H, Becker T, Frasch K, Panzirsch M, Schmauß M, Krumm S (2020) Masculinity and help-seeking among men with depression: a qualitative study. Front Psychiatry 11:599039. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.599039

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Krumm S, Checchia C, Koesters M, Kilian R, Becker T (2017) Men’s views on depression: a systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative research. Psychopathology 50(2):107–124. https://doi.org/10.1159/000455256. (Epub 2017 Mar 11)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Shi W, Shen Z, Wang S, Hall BJ (2020) Barriers to professional mental health help-seeking among chinese adults: a systematic review. Front Psychiatry 20(11):442. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pattyn E, Verhaeghe M, Sercu C, Bracke P (2014) Public stigma and self-stigma: differential association with attitudes toward formal and informal help seeking. Psychiatr Serv 65(2):232–238. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201200561

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sartorius N (2007) Stigma and mental health. Lancet 370(9590):810–811. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61245-8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) Stigma and discrimination. World Health Organization. http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/mental-health/priority-areas/stigma-and-discrimination [accessed on May 2, 2017]

  31. Corrigan P (2004) How stigma interferes with mental health care. Am Psychol 59(7):614–625. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.7.614

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Magaard JL, Seeralan T, Schulz H, Brütt AL (2017) Factors associated with help-seeking behaviour among individuals with major depression: a systematic review. PLoS ONE 12(5):e0176730. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176730

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. McKenzie SK, Collings S, Jenkin G, River J (2018) Masculinity, social connectedness, and mental health: men’s diverse patterns of practice. Am J Mens Health 12(5):1247–1261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988318772732

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Picco L, Abdin E, Chong SA, Pang S, Shafie S, Chua BY, Vaingankar JA, Ong LP, Tay J, Subramaniam M (2016) Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help: factor structure and socio-demographic predictors. Front Psychol 7:547. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00547

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Lannin DG, Bible J (2022) Self-stigma of seeking help: a meta-analysis. In: Vogel DL, Wade NG (eds) The Cambridge handbook of stigma and mental health. Cambridge handbooks in psychology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 111–142. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108920995.009

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Latalova K, Kamaradova D, Prasko J (2014) Perspectives on perceived stigma and self-stigma in adult male patients with depression. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 10:1399–1405. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S54081. (Published 2014 Jul 29)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Vogel DL, Wade NG, Ascheman PL (2009) Measuring perceptions of stigmatization by others for seeking psychological help: reliability and validity of a new stigma scale with college students. J Couns Psychol 56(2):301–308. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Vogel DL, Wade NG, Haake S (2006) Measuring the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help. J Couns Psychol 53:325–337. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.3.325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Bathje G, Pryor J (2011) The relationships of public and self-stigma to seeking mental health services. J Mental Health Counsel 33:161–176. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.33.2.g6320392741604l1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Saunders SM (1993) Applicants’ experience of the process of seeking therapy. Psychotherapy 30:554–564. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.30.4.554

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Lin E, Parikh SV (1999) Sociodemographic, clinical, and attitudinal characteristics of the untreated depressed in Ontario. J Affect Disord 53(2):153–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Bhugra D, Hicks MH (2004) Effect of an educational pamphlet on help-seeking attitudes for depression among British South Asian women. Psychiatr Serv 55(7):827–829. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.55.7.827

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Boerema AM, Kleiboer A, Beekman AT, van Zoonen K, Dijkshoorn H, Cuijpers P (2016) Determinants of help-seeking behavior in depression: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 16(1):78. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0790-0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Zolezzi M, Alamri M, Shaar S, Rainkie D (2018) Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: a systematic review. Int J Soc Psychiatry 64(6):597–609. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764018789200. (Epub 2018 Jul 18)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Dardas LA, Simmons LA (2015) The stigma of mental illness in Arab families: a concept analysis. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 22(9):668–679. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12237. (Epub 2015 Jun 29)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. World Health Organization (WHO) (2020) Lebanon country profile. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/countries/lbn/en/ [accessed on Oct 09, 2016].

  47. Craig DS (2003) The Middle East For Dummies Paperback

  48. Karam EG, Mneimneh ZN, Dimassi H et al (2008) Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in Lebanon: first onset, treatment, and exposure to war. PLoS Med 5(4):e61. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050061

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Abi Doumit C, Haddad C, Sacre H, Salameh P, Akel M, Obeid S, Akiki M, Mattar E, Hilal N, Hallit S, Soufia M (2019) Knowledge, attitude and behaviors towards patients with mental illness: results from a national Lebanese study. PLoS ONE 14(9):e0222172. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Rayan A, Fawaz M (2018) Cultural misconceptions and public stigma against mental illness among Lebanese university students. Perspect Psychiatr Care 54(2):258–265. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12232. (Epub 2017 Jul 20)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Cash TF, Begley PJ, McCown DA, Weise BC (1975) When counselors are heard but not seen: initial impact of physical attractiveness. J Couns Psychol 22:273–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Kelly AE, Achter JA (1995) Self-concealment and attitudes toward counseling in university students. J Couns Psychol 42:40–46. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.42.1.40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Leech NL (2007) Cramer’s model of willingness to seek counseling: a structural equation model for counseling students. J Psychol 141(4):435–445. https://doi.org/10.3200/JRLP.141.4.435-448

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Pheko MM, Chilisa R, Balogun SK, Kgathi C (2013) Predicting intentions to seek psychological help among Botswana university students: the role of stigma and help-seeking attitudes. SAGE Open 3(3):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013494655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Fischer E, Farina A (1995) Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help: a shortened form and considerations for research. J Coll Stud Dev 36:368–373

    Google Scholar 

  56. Constantine MG (2002) Predictors of satisfaction with counseling: racial and ethnic minority clients’ attitudes toward counseling and ratings of their counselors’ general and multicultural competence. J Couns Psychol 49:255–263. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.49.2.255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Elhai JD, Schweinle W, Anderson SM (2008) Reliability and validity of the attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help scale-short form. Psychiatry Res 159(3):320–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2007.04.020

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Komiya N, Good GE, Sherrod NB (2000) Emotional openness as a predictor of college students’ attitudes toward seeking psychological help. J Couns Psychol 17:138–113. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.47.1.138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Yu BCL, Chio FHN, Chan KKY, Mak WWS, Zhang G, Vogel D, Lai MHC (2022) Associations between public and self-stigma of help-seeking with help-seeking attitudes and intention: a meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach. J Couns Psychol. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000637. (Epub ahead of print)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Clarkin JF, Levy KN (2004) The influence of client variables on psychotherapy. In: Lambert MJ (ed) Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change, 5th edn. John Wiley & Sons, Inc, New York, pp 194–226

    Google Scholar 

  61. Nam SK, Chu HJ, Lee MK, Lee JH, Kim N, Lee SM (2010) A meta-analysis of gender differences in attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. J Am Coll Health 59:110–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.483714

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Al-Darmaki F (2011) Needs, attitudes toward seeking professional help, and preferred sources of help among Emirati college students. J Int Counsel Educ 3:39–57

    Google Scholar 

  63. El Halabi S, Founouni ZN, Arawi T (2019) Social construction of Arab masculinity and its effects on mental health. In: Laher I (ed) Handbook of healthcare in the Arab world. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74365-3_175-1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  64. Rüsch N, Angermeyer MC, Corrigan PW (2005) Mental illness stigma: concepts, consequences, and initiatives to reduce stigma. Eur Psychiatry 20(8):529–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.04.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. El Kahi HA, Abi Rizk GY, Hlais SA, Adib SM (2012) Health-care-seeking behaviour among university students in Lebanon. East Mediterr Health J 18(6):598–606. https://doi.org/10.26719/2012.18.6.598

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Barker G (2007) Adolescents, social support and help-seeking behaviour: an international literature review and programme consultation with recommendations for action/Gary Barker. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/43778

  67. van Venrooij LT, Barnhoorn PC, Giltay EJ, van Noorden MS (2015) Burnout, depression and anxiety in preclinical medical students: a cross-sectional survey. Int J Adolesc Med Health. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2015-0077

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Goodwin J, Behan L, Kelly P, McCarthy K, Horgan A (2016) Help-seeking behaviors and mental well-being of first year undergraduate university students. Psychiatry Res 30(246):129–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.09.015. (Epub 2016 Sep 17)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. D’Avanzo B, Barbato A, Erzegovesi S, Lampertico L, Rapisarda F, Valsecchi L (2012) Formal and informal help-seeking for mental health problems. A survey of preferences of Italian students. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health 8:47–51. https://doi.org/10.2174/1745017901208010047. (Epub 2012 May 31)

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Leavey G, Rothi D, Paul R (2011) Trust, autonomy and relationships: the help-seeking preferences of young people in secondary level schools in London (UK). J Adolesc 34(4):685–693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2010.09.004. (Epub 2010 Oct 16)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Barney LJ, Griffiths KM, Jorm AF, Christensen H (2006) Stigma about depression and its impact on help-seeking intentions. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 40(1):51–54. https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01741.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Beaglehole R, Bonita R, Horton R, Adams C, Alleyne G, Asaria P, Baugh V, Bekedam H, Billo N, Casswell S, Cecchini M, Colagiuri R, Colagiuri S, Collins T, Ebrahim S, Engelgau M, Galea G, Gaziano T, Geneau R, Haines A, Hospedales J, Jha P, Keeling A, Leeder S, Lincoln P, McKee M, Mackay J, Magnusson R, Moodie R, Mwatsama M, Nishtar S, Norrving B, Patterson D, Piot P, Ralston J, Rani M, Reddy KS, Sassi F, Sheron N, Stuckler D, Suh I, Torode J, Varghese C, Watt J, Lancet NCD Action Group; NCD Alliance. Lancet NCD Action Group; NCD Alliance (2011) Priority actions for the non-communicable disease crisis. Lancet 377(9775):1438–1447. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60393-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Kuh D, Ben-Shlomo Y, Lynch J, Hallqvist J, Power C (2003) Life course epidemiology. J Epidemiol Community Health 57:778–783. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.57.10.778

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC), Beirut, Lebanon

    Saria S. El-Hachem, Najla A. Lakkis, Mona H. Osman & Ranin Y. Beshara

  2. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Hanane G. Issa

  3. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Riad El Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon

    Najla A. Lakkis

Authors
  1. Saria S. El-Hachem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Najla A. Lakkis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mona H. Osman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hanane G. Issa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ranin Y. Beshara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

SE contributed to the design of the study, data collection, conduct, and analyses of the research and drafted the manuscript. NL contributed to the design of the study, data analysis, data interpretation, and critically revised the manuscript. MO, RB, and HI contributed to the design of the study, and review of the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Najla A. Lakkis.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

Before the initiation of the study, the approval of the IRB at American University of Beirut Medical Center was secured.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

El-Hachem, S.S., Lakkis, N.A., Osman, M.H. et al. University students’ intentions to seek psychological counseling, attitudes toward seeking psychological help, and stigma. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 58, 1661–1674 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02470-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-023-02470-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation