Mental health literacy in bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional survey in Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S418-S418 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Alosaimi ◽  
D. Alateeq ◽  
R. AlHenaki ◽  
S. Bin Hussain ◽  
A. Bin Salamah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Psychiatric Medication ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Major Barrier

IntroductionStigmatization of individuals with mental illnesses is widespread and serves as a major barrier to treatment. Specific alterations in mental health literacy about a disorder and its perceived treatability can change this social attitude. Assessing awareness of bipolar disorder is important as the WHO ranked bipolar disorder as the sixth cause of disability.ObjectivesTo assess mental health literacy (knowledge, attitudes and beliefs) in bipolar disorder among Saudi population.MethodsCross sectional study is currently conducted. We are using valid reliable questionnaire assessing the level of awareness, knowledge, attitude and behavior toward bipolar disorder. It is distributed to adult Saudi citizen (> 17 years of age) in malls, university and hospitals in Riyadh. People who are known to have psychiatric disorder and their caregivers or who works as psychiatrists and psychologists are excluded.ResultsThere are 200 samples collected, and 14 were excluded according to exclusion criteria. Fifty-two percent of our preliminary sample has heard about bipolar disorder, and more than half of them believe that neurotransmitter disturbances, substance use and psychological trauma are more likely to be causes of bipolar. In contrast, 49% of the sample did not choose psychiatric medication as effective treatment for bipolar, whereas more than half of them chose praying.ConclusionsIt is a first-of-its-kind research study in Saudi Arabia determining the current mental health literacy of bipolar disorder in Saudi Arabia. We are aiming to increase the sample size to reach 1000 participants. Further study will be needed to investigate possible interventions to improve such problem.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Mental health literacy of healthcare providers in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowaida Elyamani ◽  
Hamed Hammoud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Arab Gulf ◽  
Main Components

Background: The concept of Mental Health Literacy (MHL) relies on our capacity to understand and recognize mental illnesses and the ability to maintain and promote a positive mentality for ourselves and others. In our review, we aim to examine the level of MHL among healthcare providers in the Arab Gulf States.Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline were searched till August 2019. Studies were included if at least one of the main components of mental health literacy was reported, including (a) knowledge of mental illnesses, (b) stigma towards mental illnesses, (c) confidence in helping patients, and (d) behavior of helping patients, regardless of study design. The risk of bias was rated according to the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cross-sectional studies.Results: Seven studies were included in the review; all of them were cross-sectional, with a total of 3516 participants from the healthcare system. Overall most of the studies claimed limited knowledge, negative attitudes, behavior and/or confidence among nurses, pharmacists, and physicians, especially juniors. However, the overall quality of all outcomes was relatively very low.Conclusions: More high-quality evidence and in-depth qualitative studies are required to bridge the gap between mental health needs and services delivered by healthcare providers in the Gulf Arab region.Keywords: Mental disorders, health literacy, healthcare workers, stigma, attitude, knowledge

scholarly journals Dynamics of Mental Health Literacy Among the Academic Staff: A Developing Country Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol III (I) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anwar Khan ◽  
Muhammad Anwar ◽  
Irfan Ullah Khan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes

Universities are ideal locations for improving Mental Health Literacy and academic staff can play vital role in guiding students about mental health. However, there is scarcity of research on Mental Health Literacy in universities of Pakistan, thus indicating research gap. This research assesses faculty members’ knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes toward mental health. It also examines roles and capacities of faculty members in guiding students about mental health. Finally, it will examine relationship between demographic characteristics and Mental Health Literacy. A cross-sectional design was used. Population consisted of 441 academic staff of universities of Pakistan. A sample of 251 was obtained through Stratified Radom Sampling. Data was collected through “self-administered online questionnaire” and analyzed through descriptive statistics and Multivariate Linear Regression models. Academic staff had moderate level of knowledge about mental illnesses. They had moderate beliefs and attitudes regarding mental illness, and had played mild roles in promoting mental health among students.

Mental health literacy of the Lebanese population (MHeLLP): a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rim Taleb ◽  
Nayla Kassab ◽  
Asmaa Kebbe ◽  
Nour Kreidieh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Lebanese Population

Purpose This study primarily aims to evaluate the mental health literacy (MHL) of the Lebanese adult population in an attempt to yield results that can help fill the gap in the literature and support the development of new strategies to counter mental health stigma. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was composed of the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule and select questions from the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill and MHL Scale. The surveys were collected from a representative population of sample size (n = 386) among the different governorates of Lebanon. The participants, aged 18–65 years and literate, were recruited between July 2018 and September 2018 from supermarkets widely distributed across the country. Findings The results showed that the Lebanese population possesses average knowledge and certain stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illnesses. Curricular education and awareness campaigns may help refine the image of mental illness among the population. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first in Lebanon to assess the MHL of its population as a whole. It gives insight into the common misconceptions about mental illness and patterns of the related stigma that are prevalent in the Lebanese society today.

scholarly journals Mental Health Literacy of Healthcare Providers in Arab Gulf Countries: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 215013272097227
Author(s):  
Rowaida Elyamani ◽  
Hamed Hammoud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Arab Gulf ◽  
Main Components

Background: The concept of Mental Health Literacy (MHL) relies on our capacity to understand and recognize mental illnesses and the ability to maintain and promote a positive mentality for ourselves and others. In our review, we aim to examine the level of MHL among healthcare providers in the Arab Gulf States. Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline were searched till August 2019. Studies were included if at least one of the main components of mental health literacy was reported, including (a) knowledge of mental illnesses, (b) stigma toward mental illnesses, (c) confidence in helping patients, and (d) behavior of helping patients, regardless of study design. The risk of bias was rated according to the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cross-sectional studies. Results: Seven studies were included in the review; all of them were cross-sectional, with a total of 3516 participants from the healthcare system. Overall most of the studies claimed limited knowledge, negative attitudes, behavior and/or confidence among nurses, pharmacists, and physicians, especially juniors. However, the overall quality of all outcomes was relatively very low. Conclusion: More high-quality evidence and in-depth qualitative studies are required to bridge the gap between mental health needs and services delivered by healthcare providers in the Gulf Arab region.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic correlates of public stigma about mental illness: a population study on Hong Kong’s Chinese population

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Lik Hang Lo ◽  
Yi Nam Suen ◽  
Sherry Kit Wa Chan ◽  
Min Yi Sum ◽  
Cheung Charlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Lower Education

Abstract Background Individuals with psychiatric disorders are often unwilling to seek help or often follow treatment regimens, fearing public stigma. This study identified the sociodemographic correlates of public stigma while accounting for mental health literacy and life satisfaction. Methods This study analysed data for 1514 individuals who participated in a population-based random telephone survey conducted in 2018. Sociodemographic characteristics included gender, age, education level, and occupation. Data on public stigma, mental health literacy, and life satisfaction were also collected. Multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on public stigma. A moderation analysis was performed to investigate the role of age and education in the relationship between mental health literacy and public stigma. Results Sociodemographic characteristics, such as female gender, older age, lower education, and occupation (particularly retired and homemakers), were associated with a higher public stigma. The association between public stigma and mental health literacy was the most significant among individuals aged 50 years and above with lower education levels. Conclusions This study showed that certain population subgroups, based on their sociodemographic profile, have a higher stigma about mental illnesses. Understanding the differential effects of sociodemographic factors on public stigma is imperative to developing effective anti-stigma campaigns.

Mental Health Literacy in Iranian Adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1551-1556
Author(s):  
Arezoo . ◽  
Behbood . ◽  
Alireza . ◽  
Salehi . ◽  
Hossein . ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Illiteracy

Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) is a relatively ignored determinant of community mental health in Iran, in which its level and determinants should be addressed. Aim: To investigate MHL and its components among Iranian adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. After multistage cluster random sampling, 500 high school students were enrolled. Previously validated Persian version of theMHL Scale (MHLS) was used for data collection. In addition, data on socio-demographic variables were also collected. Adolescents with an MHL score of less than 60% of the achievable score were considered as at-risk of mental health illiteracy. Relevant statistical analyses were used to determine the MHL level and its association with sociodemographic variables. Results: Overall prevalence of being at-risk of mental health illiteracy was estimated at 71.5 % (95% CI: 67.1, 75.6). Prevalence of being at-risk of stigmatization, inadequate self-help knowledge, and information seeking was 91.2 (95% CI: 88.3, 93.7), 60.3 (95% CI: 59.8, 60.8), and 36.6 (95% CI: 36.1, 37.1), respectively. Having religious beliefs was associated with the stigmatization component (adjusted OR= 2.66, 95% CI: 1.27-5.59). Conclusions: Prevalence of being at-risk of mental health illiteracy is high among Iranian adolescents. Mental disorders are highly stigmatized in Iran. Keywords: Mental Health Literacy, Health Literacy, Adolescent, Iran, Mental Disorder

scholarly journals Mental health literacy in Pakistan: a narrative review

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubina Begum ◽  
Fahad Riaz Choudhry ◽  
Tahir Mehmood Khan ◽  
Faizah Safina Bakrin ◽  
Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Purpose The term “Mental health literacy” is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention. The importance of health literacy for physical health is widely studied; however, the area of mental health literacy in Pakistan has been comparatively neglected. The purpose of this paper is to address the knowledge about mental health in people living in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Relevant literature relating to mental health literacy was identified through various database searches. The databases searched included: PubMed, Cochrane database of Systemic Reviews, PsycINFO using the terms mental health, mental health literacy, mental health education, Pakistan. Findings Literature suggests that there is dearth of knowledge about mental illnesses and their treatment among public. This review also highlights the importance of mental health literacy among professionals working in the field of health care. In Pakistan, due to low literacy rate, a high percentage of poverty and dearth of trained professionals warrants an emendation in approaches established for attaining the goal of public health and psychiatric care. Practical implications Findings have implications for practitioners in the field of mental health care as well as designing targeted interventions for enhancing mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior in the future. Originality/value A limited understanding and lack of improvement in mental health literacy may interfere with society’s acceptance of evidence-based mental health care which may hamper the delivery of adequate mental health services to the needy.

The mental health literacy of British community pharmacists

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Morral ◽  
Jordi Morral
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mental health literacy (MHL) of British community pharmacists. Design/methodology/approach A survey instrument was sent by facsimile to a random sample of community pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. The survey instrument contained items concerning recognition of the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, the helpfulness of a range of interventions, mental health stigma and the degree of comfort providing pharmaceutical care to people with mental health problems. Findings Among community pharmacists (n=329) symptom recognition was high for depression but lower for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Pharmacists showed a preference for evidence-based interventions and support for psychological therapies and physical activity for all three mental health problems. Pharmacists expressed less comfort providing pharmacy services to people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression than cardiovascular disease. Mental health stigma was higher for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder than depression, with many pharmacists holding misperceptions about schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Practical implications The study findings indicate the need for enhanced mental health content in the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum which should challenge misperceptions of mental illness. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the MHL of British community pharmacists.

scholarly journals Vietnamese High School Students’ Perception of Mental Health Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai The Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Search For Information

ABSTRACT Literacy in mental health includes the ability to identify specific disorders; the ability to find information on mental health; awareness about risk factors and causes, available self-treatment and care; and attitudes which encourage identification and effective assistance. High school students, with solid yet inconsistent growth both physically and mentally, are a critical stage of development. In addition, most psychological disorders typically occur around the age of 14 years. However, few studies, especially in Vietnam, have considered the mental health literacy of high school learners. The goal of this research was to examine and analyze the mental health literacy of Vietnamese high school students. A cross-sectional study utilizing Mental Health Literacy Scale was conducted with 580 high school students. Vietnamese high school students did not have full understanding of mental health disorders despite their willingness to search for information about mental illness.

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