Mental health challenges and help-seeking behaviours among undergraduate students in Brunei Darussalam: a pilot study

Cabaran kesihatan mental dan perilaku mencari bantuan dalam kalangan pelajar ijazah sarjana muda di Brunei Darussalam: satu kajian rintis

Abstract

Abstract

Mental health issues among university students have become a pressing global concern, with rising cases of depression, anxiety, and stress affecting academic performance, coping abilities, and overall well-being. This study aimed to identify the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Brunei Darussalam and to explore their help-seeking behaviours and perceived barriers to accessing mental health care. A mixed-methods design with a sequential explanatory strategy was employed, beginning with a quantitative phase using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), followed by qualitative interviews for deeper exploration. Thirty students from three public universities participated in the quantitative phase, while two students identified with moderate depression and anxiety were interviewed. Quantitative results revealed that 33.3% of participants experienced moderate depression and 40% reported extremely severe anxiety, while nearly half (46.7%) exhibited mild stress. Female students displayed significantly higher anxiety levels than males (p = .004), and final-year students showed higher depression, anxiety, and stress levels compared to other year groups. Qualitative findings highlighted three major barriers to help-seeking: lack of awareness, stigma, and perceived difficulty in accessing counselling services. Many students preferred informal support from friends rather than professional counselling due to fears of confidentiality breaches and social judgment. These results suggest that despite increasing awareness of mental health issues, stigma and systemic barriers continue to hinder effective help-seeking among Bruneian undergraduates. The findings underscore the urgent need for universities to enhance mental health literacy, increase accessibility to on-campus psychological services, and foster supportive environments that normalise seeking professional help. Although this pilot study involved a small sample size, its findings provide important preliminary insights for developing culturally sensitive, student-centred mental health policies in Brunei’s higher education context.

Abstrak

Isu kesihatan mental dalam kalangan pelajar universiti kini menjadi kebimbangan global yang semakin mendesak, dengan peningkatan kes kemurungan, kebimbangan dan tekanan yang menjejaskan prestasi akademik, keupayaan daya tindak serta kesejahteraan keseluruhan. Kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti tahap kemurungan, kebimbangan dan tekanan dalam kalangan pelajar prasiswazah di Brunei Darussalam serta meneroka tingkah laku pencarian bantuan dan halangan yang dihadapi dalam mendapatkan perkhidmatan kesihatan mental. Reka bentuk kaedah campuran dengan strategi penjelasan berurutan digunakan, bermula dengan fasa kuantitatif menggunakan instrumen Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), diikuti dengan temu bual kualitatif bagi penerokaan mendalam. Seramai tiga puluh pelajar dari tiga universiti awam menyertai fasa kuantitatif, manakala dua pelajar yang dikenal pasti mengalami tahap kemurungan dan kebimbangan sederhana telah ditemu bual. Hasil kuantitatif menunjukkan bahawa 33.3% peserta mengalami kemurungan sederhana dan 40% melaporkan kebimbangan yang amat teruk, manakala hampir separuh (46.7%) menunjukkan tekanan ringan. Pelajar perempuan mencatatkan tahap kebimbangan yang lebih tinggi berbanding pelajar lelaki (p = .004), manakala pelajar tahun akhir menunjukkan tahap kemurungan, kebimbangan dan tekanan yang lebih tinggi berbanding kumpulan tahun pengajian lain. Dapatan kualitatif menonjolkan tiga halangan utama terhadap pencarian bantuan, iaitu kekurangan kesedaran, stigma, dan kesukaran yang dirasai dalam mengakses perkhidmatan kaunseling. Ramai pelajar lebih cenderung mendapatkan sokongan tidak formal daripada rakan-rakan berbanding kaunseling profesional disebabkan kebimbangan terhadap kerahsiaan dan penilaian sosial. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa walaupun kesedaran terhadap isu kesihatan mental semakin meningkat, stigma dan halangan sistemik masih menjadi penghalang kepada pencarian bantuan yang berkesan dalam kalangan pelajar prasiswazah di Brunei. Kajian ini menegaskan keperluan mendesak untuk meningkatkan literasi kesihatan mental, memperluas akses kepada perkhidmatan psikologi di kampus, serta mewujudkan persekitaran yang menyokong dan menormalkan amalan mendapatkan bantuan profesional. Walaupun kajian rintis ini melibatkan saiz sampel yang kecil, dapatan ini memberikan pandangan awal yang penting bagi membangunkan dasar kesihatan mental yang sensitif terhadap budaya dan berpusatkan pelajar dalam konteks pendidikan tinggi di Brunei.