Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2024
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Dr. Karen J. Whitt
Abstract
Background: College students are significantly impacted by anxiety, depression, and mental health disorders during a time of great physical, emotional, social, and environmental transition. Mental health professionals need innovative methods to complement traditional therapies to meet the increased demands for mental health services.
Aims/Objective: Evaluate the impact of an online multimodal mental health service platform on the utilization of mental health services at a four-year minority-serving institution of higher education.
Methods: This quality improvement project provided all enrolled students (n=13,352) with unrestricted access to an online multimodal mental health service platform (online platform) during the Fall of 2023 and compared the impact on services provided by the on-campus mental health counseling center and university police department’s psychiatric calls. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare differences in demographics and utilization trends between students who used the online platform and on-campus mental health services.
Results: Demographics were similar for students who used the online platform or on-campus mental health services; most were female (68%) between 18-24 (69%). The main reasons students accessed the online platform were stress (55%), anxiety (47%), and depression (32%). The online platform had a utilization rate of 3.39% while the on-campus counseling center had a utilization rate of 2.53% among matriculated students in Fall 2023. The mean number of monthly on-campus counseling center visits (2022 M(SD)=168(8.5); 2023 M(SD)=112(24); z=-1.964, p=.05) and police calls (2022 M(SD)=11(2); 2023 M(SD)=5(3); z=-1.964, p=.05) significantly decreased from Fall 2022 to Fall 2023.
Conclusion: The online platform had a slightly higher utilization rate among students than the on-campus counseling center. As the need for mental health services continues to increase, incorporating alternative therapy services will complement the work of onsite campus counselors. Providing both options creates a comprehensive approach to mental health needs.
Copyright Notice
©2024 Genique Stanislaus. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Stanislaus, G. (2024). Impact of an Online Multimodal Mental Health Service Platform on the Utilization of Mental Health Services among University Students at a Minority-Serving Institution. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/149
Open Access
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