Understanding Mental Health Issues Faced by Minority College Students

CE Course Description

Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students continue to face inequalities and barriers in mental health care and in higher education when it comes to accessing culturally appropriate services.  This intermediate continuing education course, developed using information from Social Sciences Journal, highlights how barriers to accessing mental health support for ethnic minorities directly impact attainment outcomes and psychological well-being. Additionally, it examines study findings regarding the impact of negotiating racial inequality and discrimination in the university environment and the impact upon mental health. Specific aspects considered include the impact of belonging, isolation, and marginalization on mental health and how this consequently affects university participation for BME students.

Author: School of Education, University of Roehampton

CE Course Objectives

1. Identify inequalities and barriers that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) individuals continue to experience within the mental health system and in university settings.
2. Discuss study findings examining the impact of negotiating racial inequality and discrimination at universities and the impact upon mental health.
3. Compare the experiences of BME ethnic minority students who are experiencing mental health issues to those of white students, and highlight their perceptions when encountering mental health professionals.
4. Describe the causes of inequalities within the mental health care system for BME individuals as well as hindrances to help-seeking and solutions to remedy the problem.
5. Evaluate mental health services that are generally available within university settings and recommendations to improve these services for BME students.

CE Course Outline

Abstract (5 min)

1. Brief overview of the course content and objectives

Introduction (10 min)

1. Background on mental health challenges in academic settings
2. Importance of the topic in the context of student well-being

The Problem (20 min)

1. Overview of mental health issues prevalent at universities
2. Statistics and trends in student mental health challenges

Materials and Methods (25 min)

1. Description of research methods used to assess mental health issues
2. Explanation of data collection and analysis methods

Mental Health Support Available at Universities (20 min)

1. Overview of mental health resources and support systems offered by universities
2. Examples of successful programs and their impact on student well-being

Discussion (20 min)

1. Analysis of findings from research
2. Insights into effectiveness and limitations of current support systems

Conclusions and Recommendations (15 min)

1. Summary of main findings
2. Practical recommendations for improving mental health support at universities

References (5 min)

Total Time: 120 minutes (2 hours)
Course Level: Introductory