Table 1. Self-reported reasons for not seeking professional mental health services.

Reasons with Examples	n (%)
Perception that professional help is not needed due to problems being minor or transient       e.g. “I’m not sure it’s necessaty…I only occasionally feel really depressed.” “I don’t feel as       though I need any services…any issues I have are only typical for first-year college students.”       “ I don’t think any of my mental health problems rise to a level that require professional       care.”	104 (66.2%)
Lack of time       e.g., “I do not have much time to get all of my coursework done, eat and sleep. Trying to fit in       additional commitments is very challenging and stressful.” “I’m always busy and I have no       time to myself to have fun…I don’t have time for anything.”	42 (26.8%)
Preference for self-management of problems       “I feel that I [became] very capable of managing my moods. I don’t think that therapy is       urgent right now for me, when or if it reaches that point, I will do so, but until then, I believe       I will manage just fine.” “I was able to handle whatever problems on my own.”	28 (17.8%)
Preference for seeking help from family or friends       “I have been able to get through my emotional difficulties with the help ofmy family.” “I       have a good support network…the people I talk to seem to do a good job helping me cope       with the stress that comes from being in school.”	25 (15.9%)
Pragmatic barriers to accessing services such as long waiting period to see professionals, financial concerns, not knowing where to go for help       e.g., “I have not found where to go for counseling on campus…I don’t have health insurance.”       “When I went to schedule an appointment, it had a ridiculously long wait.”	25 (15.9%)
Concerns about stigma and discomfort related to discussing problems with professionals       e.g. “I don’t want others to know what i’m going through…If I were to go to one of these       places someone could see me going there or on an insurance bill”. “I do not feel comfortable       confiding in a stranger–often I even have trouble talking with family or friends.”	19 (12.1%)
Doubt that professional help would be beneficial       e.g. “I am still unsure if it will help me. They can ofer advice, but that isn’t necessarily going       to solve my problems.” “I have had a number of close friends and family receive “support” for       mental health issues, yielding little to no benefit.”	14 (8.9%)
Negative past experiences with professional help seeking       e.g. “Not helpful. I tried thrice.”	14 (8.9%)

Note: The percentages do not sum up to 100% because students could endorse more than one reason for not seeking services