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Description

In recent years, mental health concerns among college students have increased significantly. This study aims to analyze data on student willingness and frequency to seek counseling services, such as UNLV CAPS (Student Counseling and Psychological Services), and the appeal of utilizing alternative interventions such as exercise and meditation. This study collected data from UNLV students, faculty, and staff through distribution of a scannable QR code. It included whether they were in therapy, the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, their respective functional impairment questions, and willingness to consider therapy alternatives. Based on respondents’ answers to the PHQ-9, the highest proportion peaked at 36% for minimal symptoms. The GAD-7 responses showed the highest proportion of answers at 44.9% for mild symptoms. Most notably, 70% of students reported not currently being in treatment for anxiety or depression. With that, 74.2% of respondents stated that they would seek help through university mental health services, with 94.4% saying they would seek alternative treatments to therapy or medication. There were significant positive relationships between anxiety severity and depression severity. Participants experiencing minimal anxiety were more likely to not seek alternative treatments to therapy or medication when feeling depressive or experiencing anxious symptoms. Participants indicating that they experience severe anxiety were more likely to express that they would seek alternative treatments to therapy or medication. It is shown that members of UNLV’s community would be largely open to alternative or holistic approaches to therapy and medication disbursement.

Publisher Location

Las Vegas (Nev.)

Publication Date

Fall 11-21-2025

Publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Keywords

mental health; college student; GAD-7; PHQ-9; therapy

Disciplines

Kinesiology | Life Sciences | Nutrition

File Format

PDF

File Size

694 KB

Permissions

Google Drive\Institutional Repository\OUR_OfficeOfUGResearch\Symposia\2025 Fall Symposium

Comments

Mentor: Sharon Jalene

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Associations Between GAD-7 and PHQ-9 Scores and Willingness to Seek Treatment


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