Exploring changes in mental health conditions’ stigma levels and help-seeking attitudes among engineering students

Engineering students face significant barriers to seek support for mental health needs. Stigma around mental health acts as a major barrier for help seeking behavior. This study examines changes in mental health condition (MHC) stigma, help-seeking attitudes, and identity among engineering students at a U.S. East Coast institution over the course of a year (2022–2023). Using established survey instruments, we analyzed responses from 91 students through paired t-tests. Results indicate a decline in college-specific prejudice over time and a moderate decrease in engineering-specific social distance in online contexts. However, engineering identity and belonging also declined across all demographic groups. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to enhance inclusion and support student wellbeing within engineering education.