Assessing Students' Perceptions of the University Counseling Center : Through Video Presentation

Abstract

The present study investigated if student perceptions of university counseling services became more positive after viewing a video where fellow students shared their experiences with counseling services and if the associated perception change is stronger when the video is viewed in-person instead of online. It has been recognized that over 75% of the people in the United States who live with a mental illness do not seek help from a professional. This is especially concerning when we recognize that 75% percent of mental illnesses are diagnosed by the age of twenty‐four, which is when many college students are graduating. It has also been shown that the students who experience the most stress are also the least likely to utilize counseling services. We expect that a video that showcases fellow students’ positive experiences with counseling services will aid in breaking down some of the barriers related to stigma and under‐utilization of resources. It has been demonstrated that a video could help change attitudes surrounding counseling services, especially if the video is viewed repeatedly. However, past research has not examined if there was a difference between participants who watched the video online or in‐person. We expect that there will be, and those who view the video in‐person will experience a stronger change in positive perceptions of counseling services.