Background: Recent evidence suggests that there is an increasing need for accessible and anonymous services to support higher education (HE) students suffering from psychological and/or academic difficulties. Such difficulties can lead to several negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, sub-optimal mental health, reduced study satisfaction, and dropout from study. Currently, universities in the UK lack financial resources and the on-campus mental health services traditionally offered to students are increasingly economically unsustainable. Compounded by the perceived stigma of using such services, mental health providers have been driven to address the escalating needs of students through online services.

Methods: In this paper, we review online support systems identified through a literature search and a manual search of references in the identified papers. Further systems were identified through web searches, and systems still in development were identified by consultation with researchers in the field. We accessed systems online to extract relevant information, regarding the main difficulties addressed by the systems, the psychological techniques used and any relevant research evidence to support their effectiveness.

Conclusion: A large number of web-based support systems have been developed to support mental health and wellbeing, although few specifically target HE students. Further research is necessary to establish the effectiveness of such interventions in providing a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face therapy, particularly in certain settings such as HE institutions.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613335PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0165-zDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

mental health
16
support systems
12
web-based support
8
higher education
8
systems identified
8
systems
7
support
6
students
5
review web-based
4
systems students
4

Similar Publications

Background: Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disorder influenced by various biological and psychosocial factors. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and associated factors of expressed emotion (EE) among caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia.

Methods: From May to July 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted with caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia across multiple hospitals in Southern Thailand.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial disease reaching pandemic proportions with increasing healthcare costs, advocating the development of better prevention and treatment strategies. Previous research indicates that the gut microbiome plays an important role in metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal cross-talk underlying eating behavior. We therefore aim to examine the effects of prebiotic and neurocognitive behavioral interventions on food decision-making and to assay the underlying mechanisms in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Substance use among adolescents is strongly associated with adverse physical, mental health, and social outcomes. Prevention and early intervention can reduce the likelihood of future problems, but requires valid and reliable screening tools capable of assessing risk across a range of substances. This study assessed the validity, reliability, and clinical utility of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST-Y) for adolescents aged 15-17 years.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Increased levels of emotion dysregulation and impulsive behavior are overlapping symptoms in adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (aADHD) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), both symptom domains reflecting on inhibitory control, although from different angles. Our aims were to describe their differences in the above conditions, investigate their associations with childhood traumatization, and to explore the potential mediation of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity between childhood traumas and personality functioning.

Methods: Young adults between 18 and 36 years diagnosed with aADHD (n = 100) and BPD (n = 63) were investigated with structured clinical interviews, while age-matched healthy controls (n = 100) were screened for psychiatric disorders.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The aging population represents a formidable global challenge, with China experiencing an accelerated demographic shift. While previous research has established a directional link between mental health literacy, social participation, and active aging, the moderating effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on these associations remains underexplored. This study sought to address this gap by employing moderated network analysis, in contrast to the total score approaches commonly used in prior literature.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!