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

Aminuddin, Hanisah and Kassim, Siti Kholijah and Abd Karim, Aishah Hanim (2026) Mental health challenges and help-seeking behaviours among undergraduate students in Brunei Darussalam: a pilot study. Attarbawiy: Malaysian Online Journal of Education, 10 (1). pp. 124-140. E-ISSN 2600-7622

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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.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Brunei Darussalam, Help-seeking behaviours, mental health, undergraduate students
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1050.9 Educational psychology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) > Bahasa Melayu Division Kulliyyah of Education > Department of Educational Psychology & Counseling
Depositing User:	Dr Aishah Hanim Abd Karim
Date Deposited:	14 Jul 2026 15:56
Last Update:	14 Jul 2026 15:56
Queue Number:	2026-07-Q3957
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/129782

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