Effects of Perceived Stigma from College Friends on Students Utilizing Mental Health Services

This paper explores the relationship between perceived stigma from friends and the use of mental health services. By reviewing six peer-reviewed articles it was hypothesized that there would be a negative correlation between the number of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Psychology 317 students who perceive that their friends had negative thoughts towards mental health services and the likelihood that those individuals would partake in mental health services. A convenience sample (N= 96) was taken from Dr. Cobb’s Psychology 317 class. A correlation was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 22. The results showed that there was a significant and weak positive correlation between the two variables, r(94)= 0.292, p= 0.004. Meaning, as the number of number of friends who used mental health services increased, the number of students who use mental health services would increase as well. Additionally, if people lack friends who use mental health services, they will be less likely to use mental health services offered to them. Through this research school officials can try increasing the number of people being educated on mental illnesses. As a result, the incidence of mental health stigma could be reduced and the number of people using mental health services may increase