"Let’s Work Together": Discovering Why Students with Mental Illness Might Refuse to Seek Help and Offering a Solution for Support

Presenter

Paulina Xifaras

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Ashley Woodman, Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A99, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Pursuing secondary education is a challenging venture for the majority of college students especially those who experience Mental Illness (MI) in their daily lives. Students with MI may deal with additional external and internal pressures including stigma that may prevent them from seeking help throughout their educational experience. In the current literature, there is a great deal of research on stigma, minimizing stigma, and preventing stigma on college campuses. However, there is limited research on programs offering students with MI one-on-one peer support and mentorship throughout their academic careers. The present study will utilize an interview process to understand if students with MI would benefit or be interested in the creation of a peer support program. Additionally, the present study would like to understand if stigma plays a role in a student's decision to participate in an academic support program. The predicted results of the project are that students who experience MI on a college campus would express interest and potential benefits from enrolling in a peer support program. However, the predicted reason that students may be wary of participating in such a program would be due to possible stigma associated with such a program. The present study hopes to gain support and set the groundwork for future research into the creation of an academic support program for students with MI. 

Keywords

Mental Illness, Supported Education , Stigma, Academic Support

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

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