University of Texas at Austin (University of Texas at Austin, School of Information)

The University of Texas at Austin will explore libraries’ current and potential role as mental health resources for emerging adults (18–29 years). Using surveys, interviews, and participatory design methods, the project tea, will investigate emerging adults’ needs for and practices of seeking help for mental health concerns and their perceptions of public and academic libraries as information and community hubs for mental health help-seeking. The team also will examine public and academic librarians’ perceived community needs around mental health support, efforts, and barriers to providing such support. Finally, the team will explore potential library programs, services, and tools to promote mental health help-seeking. The project will result in a social ecological model of sources for mental health help-seeking among emerging adults; a sociotechnical framework of library mental health services for emerging adults; case studies of existing library programs and services; and examples of potential programs and services to support librarians in creating and planning mental health interventions.