26 Community Expectancy and Student Mental Health: The Role of Education and Social Expectations
Michael T. Miller
Abstract
American college students are experiencing and reporting record numbers of mental health issues on college campuses, yet fewer than half report seeking and receiving treatment for these issues. A large part of that willingness to seek professional help could be linked to the stigma or perceptions of receiving mental health treatment, and this reluctance might well be a learned response to perceptions of mental health generally. The current study sought to identify the extent that formal and informal community and family interactions can influence a college student’s willingness to seek treatment. Grounded on the ideas of community expectancy, the study drew upon survey data collected from a case study college and town citizens. Findings indicated that college students did perceive that their perceptions and outlooks were linked to those around them, and that for those who had negative perceptions of seeking mental health treatment, they had strong perceptions that such treatment was seen negatively by those around them. These findings suggest that college leaders need to work harder to embed mental health service treatment options rather than allowing them to be seen as separate entities, programs, and services.