scholarly journals A review of mental health literacy strategy for adolescence

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 764
Author(s):  
Padmi Dhyah Yulianti ◽  
Endang R. Surjaningrum

Adolescents' problems concerning mental health could a burden for individual, families, and environments. To prevent further worsening mental problems, mental health literacy is needed. Mental health literacy has been promoted in advanced countries. However, it is implemented optimally in developing countries. This research aimed to find out the mental health literacy strategies done by adolescents. This article is a systematic literature review study. To obtain the articles for analysis purposes, search engine assistance was used such as Cochrane Library, Medpub, and ERIC. From 82 collected articles, and inclusion and exclusion stages were carried out to select the articles for the literature study purpose. They were then extracted from individually to get the significant findings. From the results of 11 reviewed articles, a conclusion was found. There were different mental health literacy implementation strategies in each country. Various mental health strategy types for adolescents covered national, community, school-based, and self-empowerment scope strategies.

Author(s):  
Bunna Phoeun ◽  
Amanda J Nguyen ◽  
Minh Hoang Dang ◽  
Nam Thanh Tran ◽  
Bahr Weiss

School-based mental health literacy (MHL) programs are used to reduce stigma and promote help-seeking among students and teachers. This study aimed to adapt and evaluate a teacher-delivered MHL program in Cambodia, where the impact of MHL programs has not previously been evaluated. 67 teachers and 275 students from a high school in Phnom Penh voluntarily completed the study. School staff were randomly assigned, and classrooms purposively assigned, to either a 2-day MHL training program or a control condition. Four teachers in the intervention condition were also pragmatically selected to deliver a 6-week classroom MHL curriculum to students; these teachers receive an extra day of implementation training. Teacher and student MHL were assessed before and after the intervention. Results showed significant improvements in all indicators of teacher and student knowledge and attitudes about mental illness; largest improvements were in teachers’ perceptions of dangerousness and willingness to interact. This pilot RCT supports the potential benefits of school-based MHL training in Cambodia, where there is substantial mental health stigma and discrimination. However, small to moderate effect sizes, particularly for students outcomes, suggest a need for further refinement and testing of the curriculum to optimize impact, including further consideration of implementation strategies and supports.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shurong Lu ◽  
Brian Oldenburg ◽  
Wenjing Li ◽  
Yanling He ◽  
Nicola Reavley

Abstract Background This scoping review maps population-based surveys and mental health literacy (MHL) interventions undertaken in China during 1997–2018 in order to identify research gaps. Method Following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for a scoping review, five English databases (Medline, PsycINFO, Cochrane library, Web of Science and CINAHL) and two Chinese ones (CNKI and WanFang) were systematically searched, identifying both reports of surveys and evaluation of interventions from Jan 1997 to Oct 2018. Results MHL research has developed rapidly in China in terms of numbers of studies and geographic coverage over the past two decades. There were 350 peer-reviewed publications included in this review, covering diverse settings and participants. Of these publications, 313 (89.4%) were published in Chinese-language journals and 37 in English-language journals; 303 (86.6%) reported on survey findings and 47 reported on the evaluation of MHL interventions. MHL research in China has mainly focused on the assessment of mental health-related knowledge and beliefs. Much less attention has been given to developing and evaluating relevant interventions. MHL related to general mental health and suicide were most commonly studied, with less focus on specific disorders, although some studies covered depression, psychosis and anxiety disorders. The majority of MHL tools utilized in the studies reported in this review were developed in China (n = 97, 80.2% ) and almost half of these studies (57.8%) did not provide enough details concerning psychometrics. Conclusions More interventions targeting the general public and aiming to improve MHL and promote behaviour change, are needed in China. These should be evaluated with high-quality study designs, such as randomised controlled trials. Proper validation of tools used for measuring MHL should also be addressed in future studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers ◽  
Maria Guevara Carpio ◽  
Mark D. Weist

Background: Adolescence is defined by key transitional elements which are considered within a cross-cultural context. The importance of building mental health capacity for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) as well as high-income countries (HICs) is reviewed. Objectives: To review the developmental period of adolescence, global needs for mental health promotion, the needs of LMICs while emphasizing building adolescent mental health capacity, and the importance of efforts to promote mental health literacy. Methods: Mental health literacy (MHL) is presented as a strategy that can increase public awareness regarding mental health issues among adolescents. Increased awareness through an MHL framework is discussed as a way to build adolescent mental health capacity; with this work ideally occurring through global communities of practice (COP), dialogue, collaboration, and mutual support that aim to build innovation in systems of mental health promotion. Results: The authors review structural components in research, practice, and policy that seek to build global adolescent mental health capacity, nested within COPs involving HICs and LMICs working together to advance mental health promotion for children, adolescents, and young people. Conclusion: The article concludes with a discussion of how the three structural components (i.e., research, practice, and policy) can address gaps in the provision of global mental health services for adolescents to meet adolescent mental health needs in LMICs and HICs. A multi-sectoral approach emphasizing a global COP is presented as a way to scale up capacity and maximize outcomes.


Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Maria Emmelin ◽  
Lars Hansson ◽  
Bengt Svensson ◽  
Susann Porter ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Lack of mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and employers in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems resulted in the development of a three-day group training program, the Support to Employers from rehabilitation Actors about Mental health (SEAM) intervention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of SEAM on rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge and beliefs, attitudes, and supporting behaviors towards people with mental health problems and employers as part of the return-to-work process. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 94 rehabilitation professionals were included. Data were collected prior to (T1), immediately after (T2) and 6 months after SEAM training (T3) using knowledge and attitude scales and a questionnaire on supporting behaviors. SEAM includes training in Mental Health First Aid, presentations and discussions on current research on work and mental health, and strategies and communication guidelines to use when meeting service users and employers as part of the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems. SEAM also includes a homepage with targeted employer information. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics. RESULTS: SEAM significantly increased rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge of mental health (T1-T2: z = –2.037, p = 0.042; T2-T3: z = –5.093, p = 0.001), and improved their attitudes towards persons with mental health problems (T1-T2: z = 4.984, p = 0.001). Professionals (50–60%) also estimated that they had increased their use of supporting strategies towards service users and employers. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that SEAM can increase mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and lead to a greater focus on service users’ resources and work ability, as well as on employers’ support needs.


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