What disparity in mental health care access exists on college campuses?

• A. Graduate students receive more care than undergraduates
• B. Rural areas never experience mental health issues
• C. Students of color are less likely than White students to receive mental health treatment
• D. Male students receive more counseling than female students

Answer: (C)

Disparities in access to mental health care on college campuses show up in who actually gets treatment relative to who might need it. The strongest pattern is that students of color are less likely than White students to receive mental health treatment, even when their level of need is similar or greater. This gap is driven by multiple barriers: stigma and cultural expectations around mental health in some communities, fewer providers who share students’ cultural or linguistic backgrounds, concerns about confidentiality or mistrust of the provider, fear of discrimination, financial or insurance hurdles, and longer wait times or limited outreach at campuses. All of these factors can discourage students of color from seeking help, leading to underutilization compared with their peers.

Other statements aren’t as accurate: access issues exist across the student population and can vary by campus, but they aren’t a simple matter of one group always getting more care than another. And while gender can influence help-seeking behavior, the most consistent and studied disparity on campuses tends to be racial/ethnic, not a universal pattern about males versus females.