Awareness, Attitudes, and Utilization of Counseling Services Among Students at the University of Sharjah, UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background University students experience high levels of academic and psychological stress, yet counseling services remain underutilized, particularly in Middle Eastern settings, where stigma and limited awareness may affect help-seeking. Although studies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have examined general attitudes toward professional psychological help-seeking, institution-specific evidence on students' awareness of campus counseling services, perceived confidentiality, and actual utilization remains limited. In particular, data describing these factors among students at the University of Sharjah (UOS) are lacking. This study assessed awareness, attitudes, and practices related to counseling services among students at UOS. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students at UOS between March and June 2023 using a bilingual, self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling yielded 491 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests (p ≤ 0.05). As a non-probability convenience sample, the findings may be subject to selection bias and limited generalizability. Results Most participants were aged 18-24 years (462, 94.1%) and female (354, 72.1%). Overall, 307 (62.5%) were unaware of university counseling services, and 322 (65.6%) reported confidentiality concerns. High academic stress was common, with 389 (79.2%) reporting difficulty managing stress and time during examinations. Despite this, only 34 (8.7%) of stressed students used university counseling services. Friends (187, 38.0%) and family (167, 34.0%) were the main support sources. Major barriers included lack of awareness of service location (218, 44.4%), reluctance to share personal information (199, 40.5%), and uncertainty about access (177, 36.1%). Female gender was associated with greater stress and study difficulty (302, 85.3% vs 87, 63.5%; χ² = 5.64, p = 0.018, Cramér's V = 0.11), with females showing higher odds of stress than males (OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 2.08-5.33). Face-to-face (398, 81.1%) and individual counseling (445, 90.6%) were preferred. Conclusions A substantial gap exists between students' mental health needs and counseling utilization at UOS. Limited awareness, stigma-related concerns, and accessibility barriers contribute to underuse. Enhancing outreach and improving the visibility of and trust in services may increase counseling engagement among UAE university students.