The impact of family history of mental illness on mental health help seeking in university students

Background: University students with a family history of mental illness may have an increased risk of developing mental health problems. 

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess differences in mental health help seeking among students with a family history of mental illness compared to those without a family history. 

Methods: A total of 1127 university students, aged 18 to 30 years, completed an online survey with questions about mental illness, family history of mental illness, help seeking, and psychological symptoms. 

Results: Students with a family history of mental illness were more likely to report clinically significant symptoms and more likely to use social media and online support programs. They reported similar rates of in-person help seeking. Those with more than one family member with a mental illness reported greater symptom severity, more use of online programs, and increased likelihood of prescription drug use than those with only one family member. 

Conclusions: More research is needed to understand how to increase access to mental health care and to address barriers to help-seeking considering family history of mental illness. University students may not be accessing appropriate treatment and care as required, with the rates of in-person help-seeking being low overall.