This phenomenological study explored the help-seeking paradox among distressed college students during the 2023–2024 academic year—specifically, why some students avoid while others embrace counseling services. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research examined the lived experiences of 15 purposively selected undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds. Data were gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews and four-week digital journals, capturing participants' narratives of psychological distress, perceived barriers, motivations for seeking help, and comparisons between in-person and digital services. Thematic analysis revealed complex influences such as stigma, institutional mistrust, financial constraints, and evolving attitudes toward mental health support. Ethical rigor was ensured through member-checking, reflexive journaling, and strict confidentiality protocols. The findings offer nuanced insights into the personal, social, and systemic factors shaping counseling help-seeking behaviors, with implications for improving mental health service accessibility and responsiveness in higher education settings.
This study uncovered a complex interplay of structural, social, and cultural factors that shape college students’ decisions to seek or avoid counseling services. Key barriers included long wait times, unclear costs, inconvenient access, and stigma, which varied across demographics—males cited self-reliance, while females feared social judgment. Crisis situations and peer influence were major motivators for help-seeking, while digital counseling was appreciated for accessibility but criticized for lacking depth. Marginalized students, especially first-generation and those from cultures discouraging mental health treatment, faced compounded obstacles. The findings underscore the need for institutions to reduce structural barriers, adopt culturally sensitive outreach, integrate hybrid counseling models, and involve students in designing more inclusive, responsive mental health services
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- PhD, RPsy, LPT, CHRA Josephine Manapsal (Autor:in), 2024, The Help-Seeking Paradox. A Phenomenological Inquiry of Why Today’s Distressed College Students (SY 2023-2024) Avoid or Embrace Counseling Services, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1592997
