PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND POLICY. Education Case Study

Professional Practice and Policy
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Professional Practice and Policy
Literature Review
Gagnon, Gelinas, and Friesen (2015) report that students are not seeking help for mental health issues, yet there is an increase in mental health issues on campuses. This is because a majority of the students are not knowledgeable about mental health services offered on campuses. Specifically, results indicate that students understand mental health issues but are not aware of when and how to seek help. Also, students fail to seek help because of fear of stigmatization in the form of judgment from others, or shame for having a mental health issue. However, increased awareness of mental health and mental health services on campuses can promote help-seeking behaviors among students. Further, support from family and friends can also increase the prevalence of seeking help for mental health issues.
Giamos, Lee, Suleiman, Stuart, and Chen (2017) assessed the mental health culture and coping strategies on campuses. Results indicate that students often experience stigma when seeking mental health services, especially because students are expected to succeed academically and having mental health problems hinders that success. However, a culture of mental health awareness, through various campus initiatives, effectively reduces mental health stigmatization. The creation of peer support networks to supplement campus counseling services is also a factor that can increase mental health awareness and encourage help-seeking behaviors. Also, the utilization of campus mental health resources is one of the coping strategies adopted by campus students. The study concluded that campuses need to invest more in mental health infrastructures and to increase mental health awareness.
Williams, Case, and Roberts (2018) explored the mental health issues of international students in the United States (US) in terms of the stressors and barriers to help-seeking. The study identifies academics, language, and acculturation as the main stressors contributing to mental health issues among college students. Also, the study reveals that international students fail to seek help for mental health issues because of stigmatization, lack of referrals, language barriers, and most importantly, lack of awareness on the available mental health services within campus. Thus, increasing mental health support and awareness, especially through peer networks, will promote help-seeking behaviors among international students. Also, campus administrators need to ensure that there are proper mental health services that can meet the mental needs of international students in the US.
Sontag-Padilla, et al. (2018) examined the effect of student peer organizations, such as Active Mind, on students’ mental health attitude and awareness. The results of the study reveal that participation in such organizations increases knowledge and awareness of mental health issues. Also, it reduces the stigmatization attached to mental health issues. The organizations provide students with educational programs on mental health issues. Further,...