Mental Health Disparities Among College Students of Color

Released today in the Journal of Adolescent Health and reports findings about mental health and treatment utilization among college students of color.

Authors: Sarah Ketchen Lipson, Ph.D., Ed.M.,
Adam Kern BA, 
Daniel Eisenberg Ph.D.,
Alfiee M. Breland-Noble Ph.D., M.H.Sc.

Purpose
Understanding the mental health needs of students of color is a growing priority on college and university campuses nationwide. This study aims to capture the state of mental health among students of color, including the prevalence of mental health problems and treatment utilization.

Methods
The sample is comprised of 43,375 undergraduate and graduate students at 60 institutions that participated in the survey-based Healthy Minds Study from 2012 to 2015. These data include over 13,000 students of color; we look separately at African-American, Latinx, Asian/Asian American, and Arab/Arab American students. Data are analyzed at the individual level using bivariate and multivariate modeling to elucidate variations across race/ethnicity. We examine symptom prevalence (measured by validated screens such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression), help-seeking behaviors, and related factors (including knowledge and stigma).

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Read about the NNDC College Mental Health Task Group