Pathways to mental health help-seeking among female college students: a grounded theory study.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a grounded theoretical understanding of how female college students navigate mental health help-seeking.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two self-identified female undergraduate students aged 18-30 years from a public university in Canada.

METHODS

A qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory approach was conducted. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using constant comparative methods.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified: self-reliance and self-help, nonprofessional support, semi-formal and integrated support, and professional support. Findings revealed that help-seeking is a dynamic and non-linear process, with students moving between multiple sources of support depending on their needs and context. Self-reliance often served as the initial step, while professional support was least utilized.

CONCLUSIONS

The diverse pathways of mental health support sources theory highlight the need for flexible, accessible, and integrated mental health systems that align with students' preferences and promote timely help-seeking.