EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP SEEKING BEHAVIOR AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

University students often face a range of mental health challenges, yet many do not seek professional psychological help due to deeply rooted societal and cultural factors. The current qualitative study explores the psychological help seeking behaviour among university students. This study aiming to uncover the personal, social, and cultural factors that influence their decisions. For this purpose, sample of (N=14) were selected through convenient sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted together in-depth information from participants. After data collection the interviews verbatim  were transcribed and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis, resulting in the extraction of five major themes Mental Health Awareness, which highlighted students' varying levels of knowledge about mental health issues and services; Help-seeking behavior facilitators and barriers, which identified factors such as stigma, fear of judgment, and peer influence; Social and Cultural factors, emphasizing the impact of societal norms, family expectations, and religious beliefs on students decisions; personal coping strategies, where students discussed alternative methods for managing mental health issues, such as self-reliance and informal support from friends and family; and Recommendations for further improvement, where participants offered suggestions to make mental health services more accessible and culturally sensitive. The findings reveal the complexity of help-seeking behavior and underscore the importance of addressing cultural and societal barriers, improving mental health literacy, and creating a supportive university environment that encourages students to seek professional help. These insights provide a foundation for developing more effective, student-centered mental health programs and policies.