762 - Understanding Mental Health Resource Access: Sociodemographic Influences on Students' Help-Seeking Experiences

Publication Number: 762.6549

Alyssa Chong, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Melissa Braschel, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Karly Stillwell, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Quynh Doan, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Background: With the growing need for mental health support in post-secondary institutions, we developed HEARTSMAP-U, a screening tool that allows students to self-identify needs across 10 psychosocial areas and provides resource recommendations. We conducted the HEARTSMAP-U predictive validation study from January 2022 to July 2024 with students at a Canadian university, with baseline and 3-month follow-up timepoints. This current study presents a secondary analysis, focusing on the 3-month follow-up, to evaluate the tool's impact on students' help-seeking behaviors.

Objective: Our primary objective examined the help-seeking processes of students in this study, including how many participants received HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived them as appropriate, attempted to access, and successfully accessed them. As a secondary objective, we explored whether students from marginalized demographics differed in prevalence of recommendations received, perceived appropriateness, attempts to access, or success in accessing recommended resources compared to non-marginalized peers.

Design/Methods: Descriptive statistics summarized participants’ demographics and help-seeking outcomes: including receipt of HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempts, and successful access to recommended resources. Logistic regression models examined whether demographic variables —gender, sexual orientation, and race—were associated with these outcomes.

Results: Of the 526 participants, 470 received recommendations (89.3%). We collected 400 valid responses on appropriateness, attempts to access and successful access to recommended resources. Of which, 388 participants (97.0%) found their recommendations appropriate, 235 (58.8%) attempted to access their recommended resources, and 198 (49.5%) accessed at least one recommended resource. Compared to straight students, queer students had higher odds of receiving recommendations (OR = 3.34, 95% CI = 1.63 – 7.80), attempting to access (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.01 – 2.40) and successfully accessing recommended services (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.16 – 2.69). Gender and race were not associated with receiving recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempting or accessing recommended resources.

Conclusion(s): Our findings show significant differences in help-seeking behaviors based on sexual orientation. These insights underscore the importance of considering sociodemographic factors when providing equitable and inclusive psychosocial resource access in student populations.

Table 1. Demographic Breakdown of Help-Seeking Outcomes and HEARTSMAP-U Recommendations
Descriptive Table.jpegSummary of participants' help-seeking outcomes, including receipt of HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempts to access, and successful access to resources, stratified by demographics. Totals may not add up due to participants choosing not to disclose their demographic information.

Table 2. Logistic Regression of Demographic Variables and Help-Seeking Outcomes
Logistic Regression Models.jpeg Logistic regression models examining associations between demographic variables (gender, sexual orientation, and race) and help-seeking outcomes, including receipt of HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempt to access, and successful access to resources.
* = p < 0.05,
** = 0.1 > p > 0.05,
*** = no odds ratio generated due to unstable estimates (e.g., 100% of the population responded "yes" to the outcome).

Table 1. Demographic Breakdown of Help-Seeking Outcomes and HEARTSMAP-U Recommendations
Descriptive Table.jpegSummary of participants' help-seeking outcomes, including receipt of HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempts to access, and successful access to resources, stratified by demographics. Totals may not add up due to participants choosing not to disclose their demographic information.

Table 2. Logistic Regression of Demographic Variables and Help-Seeking Outcomes
Logistic Regression Models.jpeg Logistic regression models examining associations between demographic variables (gender, sexual orientation, and race) and help-seeking outcomes, including receipt of HEARTSMAP-U recommendations, perceived appropriateness, attempt to access, and successful access to resources.
* = p < 0.05,
** = 0.1 > p > 0.05,
*** = no odds ratio generated due to unstable estimates (e.g., 100% of the population responded "yes" to the outcome).