Abstract

There is a significant need for solutions to a growing mental health crisis among college students. Students entering college now are former high school students who attended a significant portion of high school remotely due to the global pandemic. Research has shown that these students suffered significant mental health degradation, mostly attributed to social isolation, increased stress, and lack of mental health support (Rao & Rao, 2021). Unfortunately, many educational institutions are struggling to meet high demand, resulting in long wait times for in-person sessions. Some universities have partnered with telehealth companies to provide access to mental health counselors on a 24/7 basis rather than only during the limited hours of on-site counseling centers. Initial assessments of telemental health (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.) in higher education institutions have been mixed, with varying results in adoption and usage of the technology (Matherly, 2023). Yet, recent technological developments have highlighted the potential positive impact that these telehealth companies can have on supporting college students in real-time with mental health needs (Matherly, 2024). Further, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have begun to implement these types of technological solutions, as their students are open to new and innovative ways to manage their mental health concerns. However, research is needed to investigate the opportunities and barriers to telemental health participation amongst African American college students. This research aims to fill this gap by identifying the appropriate telemental health solutions and strategies that will best fit the needs of HBCU students and provide lessons learned from its implementation at various institutions.

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