Breaking the silence: unraveling groupthink among students as a barrier to acknowledging mental health issues

Purpose This study aims to investigate how group dynamics, particularly groupthink, affect students’ reluctance to seek mental health services despite rising mental health issues. Through focus groups and interviews at University of Kashmir – North Campus, it identifies factors like strong group cohesion and directive leadership contributing to stigma. Understanding these dynamics aims to enhance mental health service accessibility and reduce therapy stigma, fostering a healthier student community. Design/methodology/approach The approach used in this study involves conducting semi-structured focus groups and interviews with students at the University of Kashmir – North Campus. Through thematic analysis of the gathered data, the study aims to explore the role of group dynamics, specifically groupthink, in influencing students’ utilization of mental health services. This qualitative methodology allows for an in-depth examination of factors contributing to stigma and barriers to seeking help, ultimately informing strategies to improve mental health service accessibility and reduce therapy stigma within the student community. Findings The findings of the study revealed three key aspects of groupthink among students at the University of Kashmir – North Campus: strong group cohesion, stressful environments and following orders from directive leadership. These factors were identified as contributing to the reluctance of students to seek mental health services despite the prevalence of mental health issues. The study suggests that group dynamics play a significant role in perpetuating stigma and barriers to seeking help. Understanding these dynamics can inform strategies to enhance the accessibility and utilization of mental health services and reduce therapy stigma, thereby promoting a mentally healthier student community. Originality/value This study investigates factors contributing to stigma and barriers hindering mental health service utilization among students, focusing on group dynamics. Through eight semi-structured focus groups and two interviews with students at University of Kashmir – North Campus, thematic coding of participant voices (n = 35) revealed three aspects of groupthink: strong group cohesion, stressful and low-self-esteem environments and following orders from directive leadership. These pressures discourage help-seeking behaviors despite available services. Insights on group interactions can improve mental health programs and accessibility, reducing therapy stigma and promoting a healthier student community. This study offers novel insights into groupthink’s impact on mental health service utilization.