Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Project

College/School

College of Nursing

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Project Mentor

Annete Thomas

Readers

Melissa Owen

Abstract

Background: While improving the mental health of college students is a worldwide goal of the World Health Organization, programs to address student needs in the United States are underresourced, complex to access, and frequently confusing. In 2024, the National College Health Assessment found that 21% of college students scored high in severe psychological distress, 50% were positive for loneliness, 11% reported self-injury over the previous 12 months, and 28% scored positive on suicidal screening. Nursing students have increased levels of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, stress-related illness, and suicide. Aim: The first aim of this project was to identify perceptions, knowledge, and barriers to accessing mental health services among undergraduate nursing students. The second aim was to investigate demographic differences within the sample, to identify different needs or increased barriers. Methods: An anonymous survey, Perceptions, Knowledge, and Barriers to Student Mental Health Services, was created using Qualtrics to collect undergraduate nursing students' demographic and mental health data. A Likert scale was used to obtain the degree of agreement with statements regarding perceptions, knowledge and barriers (PKB) to mental health services. Results: Students reported that time, finances, and uncertainty that others in their social group would seek mental health services, would be barriers to seeking mental health care. Implications for Practice: The barriers of time and finances may be addressed by expanding the urgent care hours at the student health services and ensuring that students know of their limited cost. Education and guidance on the barriers that most commonly limit a student’s desire to seek mental health care and incorporation of assignments for practicing self-care activities as a part of developing sustainable nursing practice may address this critical concern.

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