Top 4 Reasons Students Avoid Using School Mental Health Resources

Mental health is an important component of one’s overall well-being. Studies indicate, however, that the number of high school students with mental health challenges is growing exponentially. However, despite the availability of mental health resources at their schools, many high school students don't utilize them. We surveyed Blue Fever users to see what students think about their school’s mental health resources and found that 87.8% of respondents said that they needed mental health support at some point. Yet, a whopping 76.6% said that they would NOT seek mental health support from their school.

The reasons for this vary, but common themes include a lack of trust, privacy concerns, having an unsafe or unsupportive school environment, or not having any mental health resources at school at all.

Lack of trust in school resources (35% of responses): Many students mentioned not trusting their school or school counselors to provide mental health support or keep their information confidential. Many students are afraid that the counselor might disclose this information to their parents. Some students (13%) also mentioned that their school counselors couldn’t empathize with their struggles.

Privacy concerns (28% of responses): Many students mentioned not wanting to share their mental health struggles with their parents, teachers, or other people at school. Some students also mentioned not wanting to be judged or misunderstood.

Limited or non-existent resources (18% of responses): Some students mentioned that their school did not offer mental health resources or that the resources offered were not helpful to them. They also mentioned not having access to school resources due to online learning or other circumstances. Even when students are aware of the mental health resources available, they may not have access to them because their school may be overbooked or only available during certain hours.

Bullying or unsafe school environment (13% of responses): Some high school students mentioned not feeling safe or supported at school due to bullying or a lack of inclusion, particularly for LGBTQIA+ students. This could be that they’re afraid to seek help for their mental health struggles because they worry that their peers, parents, or teachers will find out and punish them; their grades will suffer as a result of seeking help, or that they will be bullied by other students.

Other (6% of responses): Some students mentioned seeking help elsewhere, feeling overwhelmed with stress or other issues, or not being in school anymore. Many students may prefer to handle their mental health struggles on their own, rather than seeking help. They may feel that they should be able to handle their problems independently, or they may be afraid of being seen as a burden to others.

To address the rising number of high school students struggling with mental health, it is crucial for schools to create an environment of trust and provide supportive resources. Unfortunately, many students surveyed reported feeling uncomfortable seeking help or information from their school or counselors. In response, Blue Fever aims to empower students by offering anonymous and safe access to mental health support.