Perceived Challenges in Mental Health Education Management under the Online Environment: Evidence from University Students in Guangzhou

Gui Sijie; Muhamad Sholeh; Karwanto Karwanto

doi:10.58421/gehu.v5i2.1306

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58421/gehu.v5i2.1306

Authors

Gui Sijie Universitas Negeri Surabaya
Muhamad Sholeh Universitas Negeri Surabaya
Karwanto Karwanto Universitas Negeri Surabaya

Keywords:

Digital Support, Early Warning System, Higher Education Governance, Mental Health Education , Management, Online Environment, University Students

Abstract

The online environment has reshaped how university students learn, interact, and experience psychological pressure, creating new demands for mental health education management in higher education. This study examined the perceived challenges in the management of mental health education among university students in Guangzhou in the online environment. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 30-item questionnaire covering six dimensions: Network Environment Impact, Screening and Early Warning, Collaborative Management, Teacher Capacity, Digital Management, and System Adaptability. Data were collected from 58 students at Guangzhou Huali College and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Cronbach’s alpha. The findings showed a moderate overall level of perceived challenge (M = 3.267, SD = 0.456). Network Environment Impact was the highest-rated dimension (M = 3.468), followed by System Adaptability (M = 3.338) and Digital Management (M = 3.328), while Teacher Capacity recorded the lowest mean (M = 3.021). The instrument demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.919). The study indicates that student mental health education should be understood as an institutional governance issue in digitally mediated higher education and highlights the need to strengthen early warning systems, staff competence, and adaptive digital support mechanisms.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ansell, C., & Gash, A. (2008). Collaborative governance in theory and practice. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18(4), 543–571. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mum032

Oti, O., & Pitt, I. (2021). Online mental health interventions designed for students in higher education: A user-centered perspective. Internet Interventions, 26, Article 100468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2021.100468

Upsher, R., Prabhakar, S., Damjanovic, T., Conner, S., Ward, J., Rakow, K., Waqar, L., Lawson, H., & Byrom, N. (2025). Aligning interventions with the University Mental Health Charter: A stratified review of reviews of mental health and well-being interventions for higher education students. Educational Research Review, 49, Article 100716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2025.100716

Campbell, F., Blank, L., Cantrell, A., Baxter, S. K., Blackmore, C., Dixon, J., & Goyder, E. (2022). Factors that influence mental health of university and college students in the UK: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), Article 1778. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13943-x

Hung, J. (2023). Digital Education, Academic Performance, and Mental Health: How Can Chinese Students’ Development Be Facilitated While Engaging in E-Learning. In: Stephen, J.S., Kormpas, G., Coombe, C. (eds) Global Perspectives on Higher Education. Knowledge Studies in Higher Education, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31646-3_32.

Lozano-Blasco, R., Latorre-Martínez, M. P., & Cortés-Pascual, A. (2022). Screen addicts: A meta-analysis of internet addiction in adolescence. Children and Youth Services Review, 135, Article 106373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106373

Nguyen, M. H., Gruber, J., Fuchs, J., Marler, W., Hunsaker, A., & Hargittai, E. (2023). Determinant factors of physical and mental health problems of adolescents: Focus on internet use and lifestyle. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(12), e1872.

Purwanto, A., Sudargini, Y., & Asbari, M. (2023). Adolescent mental health in the digital age: A systematic review. Jurnal Promkes: The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Health Education, 12(1), 45–58.

Jiang, Q., Chen, Z., Zhang, Z., & Zuo, C. (2023). Investigating links between internet literacy, internet use, and internet addiction among Chinese youth and adolescents in the digital age. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, Article 1233303. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1233303

Matos Fialho, P. M., Wenig, V., Heumann, E., Müller, M., Stock, C., & Pischke, C. R. (2025). Digital public health interventions for the promotion of mental well-being and health behaviors among university students: A rapid review. BMC Public Health, 25(1), Article 2500. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23669-1

Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.

Suprihatin, S., Khoiruddin, M., & Huda, M. (2022). Embedded self-conceptualization and social learning in online social networking platforms. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 901625. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901625

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press.

Bronfenbrenner, U., & Morris, P. A. (2006). The bioecological model of human development. In R. M. Lerner (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology (6th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 793–828). Wiley.

Sakız, H., & Jencius, M. (2024). Structural components of inclusive counseling services for international university students. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 46(2), 402–425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-023-09540-1

Özer, Ö., Köksal, B., & Altınok, A. (2024). Understanding university students’ attitudes and preferences for internet-based mental health interventions. Internet Interventions, 35, Article 100722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2024.100722

Nagar, R., Quirk, H. D., & Anderson, P. L. (2023). User experiences of college students using mental health applications to improve self-care: Implications for improving engagement. Internet Interventions, 34, Article 100676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2023.100676

Kiuchi, K., Umehara, H., Irizawa, K., Kang, X., Nakataki, M., Yoshida, M., Numata, S., & Matsumoto, K. (2024). An exploratory study of the potential of online counseling for university students by a human-operated avatar counselor. Healthcare, 12(13), Article 1287. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131287

Savarese, G., Curcio, L., D’Elia, D., Fasano, O., & Pecoraro, N. (2020). Online university counselling services and psychological problems among Italian students in lockdown due to COVID-19. Healthcare, 8(4), Article 440. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8040440

Thaivalappil, A., Stringer, J., Burnett, A., Young, I., & Papadopoulos, A. (2023). Bridging the digital gap: A content analysis of mental health activities on university websites. Trends in Higher Education, 2(3), 409–420. https://doi.org/10.3390/higheredu2030024

Riboldi, I., Calabrese, A., Piacenti, S., Capogrosso, C. A., Lucini Paioni, S., Bartoli, F., Carrà, G., Armes, J., Taylor, C., & Crocamo, C. (2024). Understanding university students' perspectives towards digital tools for mental health support: A cross-country study. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health, 20, e17450179271467. https://doi.org/10.2174/0117450179271467231231060255

Collins, C., Broglia, E., & Barkham, M. (2025). Evaluating the evidence base for university counseling services and their effectiveness using CORE measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 372, 451–462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.022

Li, Q., Li, J., & Fan, Y. (2025). Addressing mental health in university students: a call for action. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1614999. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1614999

Neagu, S. N., & Vieriu, A. M. (2025). Digital and Psychological Well-Being Among Technical University Students: Exploring the Impact of Digital Engagement in Higher Education. Education Sciences, 15(9), 1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15091192

Gbollie, E. F., Bantjes, J., Jarvis, L., Swandevelder, S., du Plessis, J., Shadwell, R., Davids, C., Gerber, R., Holland, N., & Hunt, X. (2023). Intention to use digital mental health solutions: A cross-sectional survey of university students’ attitudes and perceptions toward online therapy, mental health apps, and chatbots. Digital Health, 9, 20552076231216559. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231216559

Osborn, T. G., Li, S., Saunders, R., McManus, S., Fonagy, P., & team. (2022). University students’ use of mental health services: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 16, 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-022-00569-0

Brewster, L., Jones, E., Priestley, M., Wilbraham, S. J., Spanner, L., & Hughes, G. (2023). Taking a “whole-university” approach to student mental health: The role of the university library. Studies in Higher Education, 48(8), 1329–1341. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2022.2043249

M, S., Badaruddin, Lubis, S., & Charloq. (2026). Factors Influencing Vocational High School Graduates’ Pathways to Higher Education, Civil Service, and Entrepreneurship: A Study in the East Coast Region of Aceh: English. Asian Multidisciplinary Research Journal of Economy and Learning, 3(2), 01-12. https://doi.org/10.70471/3d11jn20

Mehrotra, S., Srikanth, T. K., Dahiya, N., Verma, P., Rao, G. N., Sanghvi, P., Grover, A., & Sagar, R. (2025). Technology for mental health: Reflections on scope and future directions in institutes of higher education in India. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 17. https://doi.org/10.2196/78065

Nelvita, Ilyas, F. A., & Hidayat, M. F. (2026). Code-Mixing And Language Attitudes In Japanese Classrooms: Evidence From Senior Secondary Schools In Medan (A. Lubis , Trans.). Lire Journal (Journal of Linguistics and Literature), 10(1), 70-79. https://doi.org/10.33019/lire.v10i1.601

Freccero, A., Onwunle, M., Elliott, J., Podder, N., Purrinos De Oliveira, J., & Dewa, L. H. (2025). Students’ perceptions of learning analytics for mental health support: Qualitative study. JMIR Formative Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/70327