Mental Health Challenges and Help-Seeking Behaviours in Indian Male College Students: A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

This study explores the mental health challenges and help-seeking behaviours of Indian male college students, a group shaped by social expectations, stigma, and cultural ideals of masculinity. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, data were collected from 157 male students aged 18–25 in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) revealed that depression (24.8%), obsessive-compulsive tendencies (24.2%), and loneliness (20.4%) were the most prevelent. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews highlighted internalised stigma, emotional suppression, and reluctance to seek professional help due to cultural norms around masculinity and feared judgement. Despite recognising the value of professional services, formal help-seeking was limited due to fear of judgement and societal expectations of self-reliance. The study concludes that Indian male student’s mental health is shaped by psychological and sociocultural pressures, emphasising the need for gender-sensitive, stigma reducing and culturally relevant interventions and create safe spaces for emotional expression.