TELEMENTAL HEALTH USAGE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS: INSIGHTS FROM SURVEY RESULTS

Understanding an individual's beliefs regarding mental health and their behaviors in seeking treatment for mental health is a complex and sensitive endeavor. It is especially difficult to understand among the African American community where historically there is a stigma with seeking professional help. The use of telemental health services can help reduce the barriers to seeking help. To examine this phenomenon, we employed a mixed methods methodology to better understand how African American college students use telemental health services. This quantitative research presents the preliminary results from a campus-wide survey on telemental health usage among African American college students at a historically black college or university (HBCU). Future research includes examining the results from qualitative research, identifying the results from both phases in a comprehensive manner, and collaborating with other universities.