Contextualizing the mental health help-seeking behaviors of Latina college students experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors: A qualitative inquiry from multiple perspectives.

Résumé

Latina college students are at a heightened risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) linked to intersectional stressors such as gendered and racial discrimination. Although many express an openness to help-seeking, they often face barriers to accessing and remaining engaged in formal mental health services and, alternatively, lean more heavily on informal supportive systems such as family members and peers. This qualitative descriptive study explored help-seeking experiences from the perspectives of 12 Latina college students with STBs, eight informal supportive peers, and 10 campus mental health clinicians across California. Thematic analysis revealed five themes: (1) minimizing concerns and maintaining image; (2) catalysts for change: the role of community; (3) hidden pathways and resources; (4) confronting structural-level challenges; and (5) beyond the crisis: developing a toolkit for the future. Cultural values, such as familismo, marianismo, confianza, and personalismo, influenced help-seeking. Informal supports often served as early responders and bridges to formal support, while digital platforms emerged as alternative spaces for awareness and validation. Clinicians highlighted the need for culturally responsive, trust-centered interventions. Our findings point to the critical role of peer networks and culturally relevant approaches in addressing STBs among Latina college students. Recommendations include peer support training programs rooted in cultural values, expanded access to flexible and immigration context-informed counseling services, and digital strategies to reduce stigma and promote mental health literacy. This study underscores the urgency of multi-level, culturally relevant interventions to promote health equity for Latina college students experiencing STBs.