Mental health literacy among Arab university students in Israel: A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110361
Author(s):  
Anwar Khatib ◽  
Fareeda Abo-Rass
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Arab Population ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Arab Students

Background: There has been a noticeable increase in the number of studies concerned with mental health literacy (MHL), specifically among students. Still, very few studies have examined MHL among students of non-Western minority groups. Aims: This study examined MHL among Arab students in Israel based on Jorm’s conceptual framework. Methods: Twenty-eight Arab students in Israel took part in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Most were single and Muslim, in their second year of studies, and most reported low socioeconomic status. The data were analyzed thematically, guided by the Jorm’s six MHL dimensions. Results: Different levels of literacy were found in the various MHL dimensions. The participants identified severe mental disorders more easily than mood disorders; reported a variety of possible causes of mental disorders; were well aware of available professional help (apart for rehabilitative services); identified significant barriers to mental health help seeking, as Arabs; and reported the internet as a major source of information about mental health problems and their treatment Conclusions: The participants’ MHL appeared to be associated with their unique sociocultural characteristics. This study stresses the need to raise MHL among Arab students in Israel, and in particular to promote positive attitudes to seeking professional help. It also highlights the need to develop culturally adapted mental health interventions for the Arab population in Israel.

Depression literacy and help-seeking in Australian police

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1063-1074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J Reavley ◽  
Allison J Milner ◽  
Angela Martin ◽  
Lay San Too ◽  
Alicia Papas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Depression Literacy

Objective: To assess depression literacy, help-seeking and help-offering to others in members of the police force in the state of Victoria, Australia. Methods: All staff in police stations involved in a cluster randomised controlled trial of an integrated workplace mental health intervention were invited to participate. Survey questions covered sociodemographic and employment information, recognition of depression in a vignette, stigma, treatment beliefs, willingness to assist co-workers with mental health problems, help-giving and help-seeking behaviours, and intentions to seek help. Using the baseline dataset associated with the trial, the paper presents a descriptive analysis of mental health literacy and helping behaviours, comparing police station leaders and lower ranks. Results: Respondents were 806 staff, comprising 618 lower-ranked staff and 188 leaders. Almost 84% of respondents were able to correctly label the problem described in the vignette. Among those who had helped someone with a mental health problem, both lower ranks and leaders most commonly reported ‘talking to the person’ although leaders were more likely to facilitate professional help. Leaders’ willingness to assist the person and confidence in doing so was very high, and over 80% of leaders appropriately rated police psychologists, general practitioners, psychologists, talking to a peer and contacting welfare as helpful. However, among both leaders and lower ranks with mental health problems, the proportion of those unlikely to seek professional help was greater than those who were likely to seek it. Conclusion: Knowledge about evidence-based interventions for depression was lower in this police sample than surveys in the general population, pointing to the need for education and training to improve mental health literacy. Such education should also aim to overcome barriers to professional help-seeking. Interventions that aim to improve mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour appear to be suitable targets for better protecting police member mental health.

scholarly journals Mental Health Literacy of University Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Rachella Ryandra Fitri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
State University ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Positive Attitudes

The purpose of this study is to observe: (1) Gender difference in mental health literacy of Yogyakarta State University students and (2) Differences in mental health literacy of Yogyakarta State University students based on vignette character’s gender. The type of this study was factorial survey. In this study, respondents were presented with short descriptions called vignette that were constructed and contained elements that had been manipulated by the researcher to control certain variables, namely gender and mental disorders that the characters had. Then, subjects were asked to answer closed questions (Mental Health Literacy Test) based on the vignettes. The subjects in this study were 377 undergraduate students from Yogyakarta State University. The sampling techniques used in this study were cluster random sampling and incidental sampling. Chi-Square was performed to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that: (1) There were gender differences in mental health literacy aspect positive attitudes toward professional help where more male respondents did not recommend seeking professional help for depression (2) There were differences in mental health literacy aspects knowledge about the causes of mental disorders and positive attitudes towards professional help based on gender vignette characters for depression.

Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking Behaviour and Wellbeing in Young People: Implications for Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (01) ◽  
pp. 16-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prishini Ratnayake ◽  
Chelsea Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

AbstractResearch indicates that individuals who have high levels of mental health literacy engage in help-seeking for mental health issues more in comparison to those with low mental health literacy. It is therefore important to ensure that young people are able to identify signs of psychological distress and identify appropriate supports and resources when necessary. Preliminary research has identified gender differences in help-seeking and identification of mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health literacy, help-seeking intentions and wellbeing in senior high school students. The sample consisted of 22 females and 10 male students, ranging from 16–18 years. Findings indicated a positive correlation between wellbeing and general help-seeking, as well as wellbeing and help-seeking for suicidal ideation. Gender differences were identified for aspects of mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions. Results of this research have implications for practitioners in fostering positive outcomes and developing targeted interventions towards improving mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviour in the future.

Mental health literacy and help-seeking among unemployed people with mental health problems

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Waldmann ◽  
Tobias Staiger ◽  
Nathalie Oexle ◽  
Nicolas Rüsch
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Unemployed People

scholarly journals Associations between dimensions of Mental Health Literacy and adolescent help-seeking intentions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Goodfellow ◽  
Anna Macintyre ◽  
Lee Knifton ◽  
Edward Sosu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Treatment Efficacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Informal Help

Background: Adolescence is a critical period for the development of mental health problems. However low mental health literacy (MHL) may impede help-seeking for these problems. Although MHL is a multidimensional construct and adolescent help-seeking can be through formal and informal means, little is known about how dimensions of MHL influence these help-seeking intentions. This study examines associations between dimensions of MHL and formal and informal help-seeking intentions among adolescents. It also investigates whether informal help-seeking mediates the association between dimensions of MHL and formal help-seeking, and whether these associations are moderated by gender. Methods: A cross-sectional survey including measures of MHL, and help-seeking intentions was distributed to participants in ten schools (12-18 years) across Scotland (n = 734). Data were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Results: CFA identified two distinct dimensions of MHL: ability to identify a mental health problem, and knowledge of treatment efficacy. Only knowledge of treatment efficacy was associated with increased intention to seek formal and informal help. Ability to identify a mental health problem was negatively associated with both forms of help-seeking intention. Informal help-seeking mediated the association between both forms of MHL and formal help-seeking. Gender did not moderate associations between MHL and help-seeking. Conclusions: Distinct dimensions of MHL have disparate associations with adolescent help-seeking intention. Care should be taken when providing MHL interventions to ensure that adaptive forms of MHL are equally promoted. Future research should investigate possible mechanisms by which discrete forms of MHL influence adolescent help-seeking.

Mental health literacy among adolescents: Evidence from a community-based study in Delhi

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110061
Author(s):  
Aftab Ahmad ◽  
Harshal Ramesh Salve ◽  
Baridalyne Nongkynrih ◽  
Rajesh Sagar ◽  
Anand Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
P Value ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Help Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Background: Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is the ability to recognize mental disorders, along with knowledge of professional help available, effective self-help strategies, skills to give support to others, and knowledge of how to prevent mental disorders. Adequate MHL is linked to better health-seeking behavior and management of mental illness. Aim: To assess the MHL related to depression and anxiety among adolescents of age 15 to 19 years residing in Delhi Methods: A survey was conducted among adolescents in southeast Delhi. MHL was assessed using sex-matched vignettes of Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) like depression and anxiety. MHL was assessed under domains of identifications of disorders, help-seeking behavior, knowledge about prevention, and stigmatizing attitude toward the respective illness. Statistical analysis was done in STATA and percentage of participants with adequate MHL in various domains was calculated, and difference between various groups was examined using chi-square test. Results: A total of 491 adolescents participated (response rate of 87.2%) of whom a 50.3% were girls and 57.8% were 15 to 17 years of age. Only 50 (10.2%) participants identified depression vignette as that of depression and 51 (10.4%) identified vignette of anxiety disorder as the same. No statistically significant gender differential in MHL was seen ( p value = .8). The stigmatizing attitude, assessed by asking a series of questions suggesting stigma toward the particular illness, was observed among almost all participants (depression -99.4%, and anxiety disorders -96.1%). 18.3% and 18.7% of participants reported correct knowledge about the prevention of depression and anxiety respectively. Four hundred and twenty-two (86%) identified the need to seek help for symptoms reported in vignettes. Of these, 234 (55%) preferred parents, and 62 (14.7%) look after friends for any help. Conclusion: Adolescents residing in Delhi reported poor MHL for Common Mental Disorders. High stigma and poor help-seeking behavior was also observed among the participants toward CMDs

scholarly journals A Structural Equation Modeling of Mental Health Literacy in Healthcare Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13264
Author(s):  
Chia-Min Lu ◽  
Yin-Ju Lien ◽  
Hsing-Jung Chao ◽  
Hui-Shin Lin ◽  
I-Chuan Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes ◽  
Healthcare Students

Background: There is a high prevalence of mental illness among healthcare students, and most students with mental health problems are reluctant to seek help from mental health professionals. Help-seeking is a component of mental health literacy (MHL). Although MHL is conceptualized as multi-dimensional, a theory-based multi-construct of MHL is still lacking. We aimed to build a theory-based multi-construct of MHL to explore the pathways of help-seeking. Methods: The data were obtained from a survey on MHL among healthcare students in 2018 (n = 1294). The Mental Health Literacy Scale for Healthcare Students was used to measure the maintenance of positive mental health, recognition of mental illness, mental illness stigma attitudes, help-seeking efficacy, and help-seeking attitudes. Descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted. Results: The findings of the SEM model indicated recognition of mental illness had a positive direct effect on both help-seeking efficacy and maintenance of positive mental health. Additionally, help-seeking efficacy fully mediated the relationship between recognition of mental illness and help-seeking attitudes. Conclusions: Help-seeking efficacy plays a significant role in healthcare students’ willingness to seek professional help when mental health care is needed. Accordingly, improving help-seeking efficacy strategies would increase the use of mental health services and contribute to the prevention of mental health problems.

scholarly journals Does mental health literacy influence help-seeking behavior in medical students?

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Nandini Amithya Pramesi Lumaksono ◽  
Pudji Lestari ◽  
Azimatul Karimah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Help Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Good Attitude

Introduction: Medical students are experiencing uncertainty in finding the appropriate help for their mental health problems. When they finally decide to seek help, some of them are already in a mental crisis. The suitable indicator for early identification of mental disorder is mental health literacy. Mental health literacy also functions as a tool to decrease stigma towards people with mental illness and to improve help-seeking behavior. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of mental health literacy to help-seeking behavior and to describe mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior of the medical students.Methods: The study design was observational analytical. Participants filled demographic data and answered questionnaire via an online file sharing platform. The questionnaires used in this study were Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Short Form (ATSPPH-SF). The influence of mental health literacy to help-seeking behavior was analyzed using logistic regression analysis.  Results: The respondents were 60 medical students. No differences of literacy and attitude were found across the admission years. Overall, the students had good literacy and attitude. Students showed lower scores in the MHLS attributes containing ideas about self-treatments, confidentiality, social distance, and reliance on self. Being literate in the total score of MHLS did not influence on having a good attitude in ATSPPH-SF (p=0.303). Only by being literate in attitudes that promote recognition and help-seeking, the students showed a good attitude in ATSPPH-SF (p-value=0.027).  Conclusion: There was no influence on mental health literacy to help-seeking behavior.

Examining a Mental Health Literacy Intervention Among Economically Disadvantaged Youth

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-355
Author(s):  
Jayna Mumbauer-Pisano ◽  
Sejal Mehta Barden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Literacy Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Stigma

Although mental health problems in adolescence are increasingly common, 60% of diagnosed youth do not receive appropriate mental health treatment. This service gap is even wider among adolescents from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who face increased mental health stigma and barriers to treatment. Mental health literacy is a pivotal step in addressing the discrepancy between rates of mental health diagnoses and of individuals treated. This study evaluates the influence of a 6-week mental health literacy intervention on economically disadvantaged adolescents’ mental health literacy, implemented by counselors-in-training. From pretest to posttest, adolescents’ mental health knowledge and attitudes toward help-seeking significantly increased, while mental health stigma significantly decreased. These changes were sustained at 1-month follow-up. The results highlight the importance of brief mental health literacy interventions to encourage healthy coping and help-seeking and to dispel stigmatizing beliefs.

Influence of Gender on Mental Health Literacy in Young Australians

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 790-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue M. Cotton ◽  
Annemarie Wright ◽  
Meredith G. Harris ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Patrick D. Mcgorry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Service Delivery ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Computer Assisted

Objectives: To determine the effects of gender on mental health literacy in young people between 12 and 25 years of age. Design: Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing was employed to conduct a crosssectional structured interview focusing on young people's awareness of depression and psychosis. Participants: The sample comprised 1207 young Australians (539 males and 668 females) between the ages of 12-25 recruited from two metropolitan and two regional areas within Victoria. Six hundred and six respondents were presented a depression vignette and 601 were presented a psychosis vignette. Results: Female respondents (60.7%) were significantly more likely to correctly identify depression in the vignette as compared to male respondents (34.5%). No significant gender differences were noted for the psychosis vignette. Males were less significantly likely to endorse seeing a doctor or psychologist/counsellor for the treatment of psychosis. Males were also significantly more likely than females to endorse alcohol as a way of dealing with depression and antibiotics as useful for dealing with psychosis. Conclusion: Gender differences in mental health literacy are striking. Males showed significantly lower recognition of symptoms associated with mental illness and were more likely endorse the use alcohol to deal with mental health problems. Such factors may contribute to the delays in help seeking seen in young males. Further research is needed to delineate how these gender differences in young people may obstruct help seeking, early intervention and other aspects of mental health service delivery.

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