Study shows stigma around mental health on campus correlates with students not seeking treatment

College students who experience suicidal thoughts are less likely to seek treatment if they go to school where there is a high level of stigma around mental health issues, a UCLA-led study found.

In a study published in Social Science and Medicine, UCLA sociology professor S. Michael Gaddis examined data from the Healthy Minds Study, an online survey conducted annually that examines mental health, service utilization and related issues among undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Since its launch in 2007, the survey has been conducted at more than 150 colleges and universities, with more than 175,000 people responding.