Modeling the Reduction of Attrition in Campus Mental Health Services: A Discrete Choice Conjoint Experiment

Abstract

A significant percentage of college students discontinue mental health treatment prematurely. Using a discrete choice experiment, 909 students chose between experimentally manipulated descriptions of mental health services, selecting the option that would encourage them to stay in treatment. Latent class analysis identified three groups. The community class (36.7%) would remain in treatment at community walk-in clinics. The campus class (27.3%) would be more likely to remain in an on-campus student health service. The residence class, 36.0% of participants, would be most likely to remain in treatments at their residence. All classes would be more likely to remain in services including the option of medication, psychotherapy, or alternative treatments such as diet and exercise. Simulations predicted that most students would trade individual treatment for more cost-effective groups if students who had experienced mental health problems recommended these services and access to text messages and telephone help was included.