Students’ perception of the online self-assessment support tools/information on depressive related disorders.

Abstract

Background: Mental health issues are prevalent among students; research has found that university students experience significantly higher levels of psychological distress than the general population. However, research on help seeking behavior has found that distressed individuals are less likely to seek professional help. This study will examine Attitudes toward online mental health resources and identify the effects of external factors such as Social Influence and Online Tool Designs on its usage. Results: We conducted a two-part survey about students’ perception of online mental health resources. We modified the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM); an information system theory that models how users come to accept and use a technology. Conclusions: Results indicate TAM-Mod predicts a substantial proportion of Intention to Use online mental health resources. Although not all external factors are significant, research indicates that external variables are contributing factors in the individual decision to access and utilize online mental health resources.