Factors associated with intentions to seek face-to-face and online supports among Chinese-heritage university students in Australia with mental health concerns

Abstract

Chinese-heritage students in Australian universities tend to underuse both face-to-face and online mental health services. This study aimed to explore the associations between mental health knowledge, different types of stigmas, and intentions to seek help from online and face-to-face sources for psychological problems among Chinese-heritage students. Chinese-heritage students (N = 268) recruited from three Australian universities completed an online cross-sectional survey. Over 70 % self-reported current mental ill-health and 89 % had previously sought help for their condition. Overall, there were high intentions to seek help from online (71.3 %) and face-to-face (85.1 %) sources, with a clear preference for face-to-face support. Multivariate analyses revealed that international student status, longer residence in Australia, and greater mental health knowledge were associated with higher intentions to seek help from online and face-to-face sources; and younger age was additionally associated with intentions to seek help from online sources. The results suggested that, among help-seeking Chinese-heritage students with poor mental health, being an international student and residing longer in Australia were associated with higher intentions to seek help. Strategies to promote help-seeking among Chinese-heritage students in Australia should therefore focus on supporting newly arrived students, as well as improving mental health knowledge.