Rehberlik ve Psikolojik Danışmanlık Lisans Öğrencilerinin Psikolojik Yardım Gereksinimleri ve Yardım Almada Karşılaştıkları Zorluklar

Abstract

In this study, firstly, the mental health status of GPC undergraduate students in basic areas was evaluated using individual assessment measurements regarding depression, anxiety, somatization, hostility and negative self-perceptions. Secondly, the childhood traumas of these students were examined and these data were associated with other mental health data. Finally, barriers to students seeking professional mental health help were examined. In the research, 594 students (475 women; 119 men; 57 first-year, 121 second-year, 258 third-year, 158 fourth-year) with an average age of 21.6 enrolled in the GPC undergraduate program affiliated with 10 state universities in metropolitan and urban areas in different regions of Turkey completed the PIF, BSI and ETI. 69.2% of the participants stated that they had experienced psychological distress; 61.3% stated that they needed professional psychological help at some point, and 40.6% stated that they sought professional psychological help at some point in their lives due to their need for psychological support. Only 46.2% of the participants who stated that they sought professional psychological help were able to access the help they were looking for. More than half of the students (56.1%) stated that they experienced family problems, half (50.1%) reported anxiety disorders, and 36.6% reported depression. Experiencing childhood trauma has been found to predict underlying distress such as depression and anxiety. It was found that the most important obstacle experienced by students in accessing professional psychological help was economic limitations (46.7%). Findings provide evidence that barriers to identifying mental health problems and help-seeking exist among GPC students.