ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of the mental health service demands between rural school minors with different demographic characteristics, and provide the reference in formulating mental health intervention strategies for rural minors.

MethodsUsing the stratified random cluster sampling, 3 456 rural school minors from grade 4 to 9 were selected in Sichuan, Anhui and Henan province for April to July 2018.The acquisition and demands of mental health service of rural school minors were investigated using the self-designed questionnaire.

ResultsThe 61.1% of the subjects wanted to obtain mental health services, and the variables with statistical significance were grade, score, residential status and family economic status(P < 0.01).The psychological counselors(51.5%) were the main way to obtain services, and the variables with statistical significance were the gender, grade, performance, and residential status(P < 0.01).The subjects hoped to obtain services through face-to-face communication(45.1%) and internet(28.3%), and the variables with statistical significance were gender, grade, residential situation, education mode and family economic status(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The demands for mental health services in subjects with different gender, grade, academic performance, living in school, only-child status, marital status of parents, family education and economic status were different(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe demand for mental health services in rural minors is high, which in the rural minors with different demographic characteristics is different, and they need to obtain mental health services through various ways and means.