title: A Virtual Mental Health Clinic for University Students: A Qualitative Study of End-User Service Needs and Priorities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Help seeking for mental health problems among university students is low, and Internet-based interventions such as virtual clinics have the potential to provide private, streamlined, and high quality care to this vulnerable group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to conduct focus groups with university students to obtain input on potential functions and features of a university-specific virtual clinic for mental health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 19 undergraduate students from an Australian university between 19 and 24 years of age. Focus group discussion was structured by questions that addressed the following topics: (1) the utility and acceptability of a virtual mental health clinic for students, and (2) potential features of a virtual mental health clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants viewed the concept of a virtual clinic for university students favorably, despite expressing concerns about privacy of personal information. Participants expressed a desire to connect with professionals through the virtual clinic, for the clinic to provide information tailored to issues faced by students, and for the clinic to enable peer-to-peer interaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, results of the study suggest the potential for virtual clinics to play a positive role in providing students with access to mental health support.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5694-4631
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farrer
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6351-9844
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulliver
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Jade Ky
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5135-2247
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4160-492X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Mental Health Research The Australian National University Acton Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1556-0708
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
keywords: mental health; online; qualitative; student; university