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A Virtual Mental Health Clinic for University Students: A Qualitative Study of End-User Service Needs and Priorities
Louise Farrer1, Amelia Gulliver1, Jade Ky Chan1
1National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
Background:
Help seeking for mental health problems among university students is low, and Internet-based interventions such as virtual clinics have the potential to provide private, streamlined, and high quality care to this vulnerable group.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to conduct focus groups with university students to obtain input on potential functions and features of a university-specific virtual clinic for mental health.
Methods:
Participants were 19 undergraduate students from an Australian university between 19 and 24 years of age. Focus group discussion was structured by questions that addressed the following topics: (1) the utility and acceptability of a virtual mental health clinic for students, and (2) potential features of a virtual mental health clinic.
Results:
Participants viewed the concept of a virtual clinic for university students favorably, despite expressing concerns about privacy of personal information. Participants expressed a desire to connect with professionals through the virtual clinic, for the clinic to provide information tailored to issues faced by students, and for the clinic to enable peer-to-peer interaction.
Conclusions:
Overall, results of the study suggest the potential for virtual clinics to play a positive role in providing students with access to mental health support.
