Psychological Distress and Self-Reported Counseling Need Among University Students: Evidence of a Help-Seeking Gap in Higher Education

Abstract

Psychological wellbeing plays a critical role in students’ success in tertiary education, yet many students experiencing distress do not engage with formal support systems. This study examines psychological distress and perceived support need among 6,300 undergraduate students in a Vietnamese university using a cross-sectional survey. More than half of students reported moderate-to-high distress, while only a small proportion expressed a direct need for counseling. However, supplementary indicators showed that many students reported difficulty coping without support and were willing to seek help under appropriate conditions. Structural equation modeling indicated a significant but modest relationship between distress and perceived support need. These findings suggest a mismatch between distress, support recognition, and service engagement. The study highlights the importance of proactive, context-sensitive institutional strategies to support student wellbeing and success.