scholarly journals Mental Health Literacy, Stigma, and Access to Services among Young Adults in Tunisia

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Eddahiri ◽  
Katherine Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Survey Results

Background: There is limited research on mental health literacy and stigmatization attitudes towards mental illness in Tunisia, despite the increasing need for such research to better understand its complexity in a specific country context. Using an exploratory mixed-method approach this study attempted to assess the needs and perceptions about mental health within a population of Tunis-based young adults. Methods: A sample of 80 participants completed an online survey on different aspects of mental health attitudes, mental illness literacy and stigma, with a subset of survey participants participating in one-on-one interviews. Results: Survey results show that 77% of respondents completely agreed or somewhat agreed that they would like to learn more about mental health. This study also found that 68% of the sample reported a lack of accessibility to mental healthcare services resulting in 49% reporting their preference to search their symptoms on the internet instead of informing someone. Throughout the interviews phase, the main factors identified to have a crucial impact on young adults' choice to openly communicate feelings and thoughts with each other and to seek professional help are: culture, gender roles, sexual orientation, and family approval. Conclusion: This study suggests a great desire among young adults to learn more about mental health, and highlights the cultural complexities regarding mental health stigmatization in Tunisia. It also highlights the need for culturally relevant approaches raising awareness about mental health.

Australian paramedic students’ mental health literacy and attitudes towards mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon C. King ◽  
Amanda L. Rebar ◽  
Paul Oliveri ◽  
Robert Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Use Of Emergency Services

Purpose Australian paramedics regularly encounter patients experiencing mental illness. However, some paramedics hold negative attitudes towards the use of emergency services in providing care for these patients. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the mental health literacy (MHL) of Australian paramedic students, and the training and experiential factors associated with MHL. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional online survey was delivered to paramedic students across Australia. A total of 94 paramedic students completed the survey examining MHL, mental health first aid (MHFA) intentions, confidence in providing help, personal and perceived stigma and willingness to interact with a person experiencing mental illness. Findings Participants generally had poor MHFA intentions in spite of good recognition of mental health disorders and good knowledge about mental health. Participants also demonstrated low stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness; however, they expressed a lack of willingness to interact with a person experiencing mental illness. Originality/value Our findings propose a combination of work-based experience and specific MHFA training may be beneficial to paramedic students to improve care for patients experiencing mental illness.

scholarly journals Is mental health literacy related to different types of coping? Comparing adolescents, young-adults and adults correlates

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-290
Author(s):  
Mariana Maia de Carvalho ◽  
Maria da Luz Vale-Dias
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Questionnaire ◽  
Mental Well Being

Introduction: Mental health literacy is associated with better mental health outcomes and believed to improve the way people cope with life challenges and manage mental health issues. Nevertheless, no study has yet empirically examined the relationships between mental health literacy and the use of coping strategies. Aims: This study aims to describe the levels of mental health literacy (literacy about mental illness and literacy about positive mental health) and the use of coping (coping styles) in adolescents, young-adults and adults; To explore the relationship between coping and mental health literacy in each age group; To compare if patterns of significant correlations vary across groups. Methods: This is a cross-sectional / exploratory design study. We have collected online and through paper-pencil method three developmental samples: adolescents aged between 15-18 years old (N=240), young-adults aged between 19-36 (74) and adults aged between 37-75 (N=105). Measures used were: Positive Mental Health Questionnaire PosMHLitq (Maia de Carvalho et al., in preparation) to evaluate literacy about positive mental health; the Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire MHLq (Campos et al., 2016; Dias et al., 2018) and the Portuguese adaptation of the Brief Cope by Pais Ribeiro and Tavares (2004) to control coping styles. Results: Across the three developmental groups, most coping styles are associated with both literacy about mental illness and literacy about mental well-being, but with different patterns of correlation between coping/literacy about mental well-being/coping/literacy about mental illness and between groups. The Use of Emotional Support is the only coping style significantly associated with both mental health literacy about mental illness and literacy about mental well-being in adolescents, young-adults and adults. Conclusions: Future research should examine this findings with longitudinal design.

scholarly journals MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY, STIGMA, SHAME AND SELF CRITICISM: A STUDY AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Mª da Luz Vale-Dias ◽  
Mariana Maia de Carvalho ◽  
Maria Joao Martins ◽  
Sandra Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Internalized Shame

Abstract:Mental health literacy (MHL) and mental illness stigma (MIS) represent new horizons of study and intervention, particularly important, for both communities and clinical settings (European Commission & Portuguese Ministry of Health, 2010). In this paper we aimed to: a) describe a clinical sample (CS) and non clinical group (NCG) in aspects related to family history of psychopathology, contact with mental illness and “learning about mental illness”; b) differentiate groups in terms of MHL, shame and self criticism; c) test associations between MHL with shame and self criticism; and, in the clinical sample, d) test the relationship between self stigma, shame and self criticism; e) explore the predictor role of other’s support in self stigma. To do so we collected data from a sample of 187 young adults, including CS and NCG, using: a Sociobiographic Questionnaire; Opinions about Mental Illness (Cohen & Struening, 1962); Other as Shamer Scale (Goss, Gilbert & Allan, 1994); Internalized Shame Scale (Cook, 1994); and Forms of Self Criticizing and Self Reassuring Scale (Gilbert, Clarke, Hempel, Miles, & Irons, 2004). Our results show that: most of the subjects learned what is mental illness at school; CS know more people that has or had mental illness than NCG; there are no differences on MHL within samples; shame and self criticism are higher in the CS and correlate with self stigma; others support predict self-stigma. Several research and clinical implications are presented.Keywords: mental health literacy, shame, self criticism, clinical sample, community sample, young-adults.

Evaluation of a Resilience-Based Intervention for Children of Parents With Mental Illness

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 1041-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliza Fraser ◽  
Kenneth I. Pakenham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Participant Satisfaction ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Treatment Gains ◽  
And Control

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a group psychosocial intervention for children (aged 12–18) of a parent with mental illness (copmi). Method: A treatment and waitlist-control design study with pre- and post-treatment, and 8 week follow up, was carried out. The treatment (n = 27) and control (n=17) groups were compared on three groups of dependent variables: intervention targets (mental health literacy, connectedness, coping strategies), adjustment (depression, life satisfaction, prosocial behaviour, emotional/behavioural difficulties), and caregiving experiences. Results: Group comparisons failed to show statistically significant intervention effects, but reliable clinical change analyses suggested that compared to the control group, more intervention participants had clinically significant improvements in mental health literacy, depression, and life satisfaction. These treatment gains were maintained 8 weeks after treatment. Participant satisfaction data supported these treatment gains. Conclusions: Given study limitations and the modest support for intervention effectiveness it is important that this and other similar interventions should continue to be revised and undergo rigorous evaluation.

scholarly journals Lay Beliefs about Treatments for People with Mental Illness and Their Implications for Antistigma Strategies

2005 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 745-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Lauber ◽  
Nordt Carlos ◽  
Rössler Wulf
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Belief Systems ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
Social Treatment ◽  
Nonmedical Treatment

Objective: First, to describe factors influencing the public's attitude toward treatment recommendations for people with mental illness; second, to identify coherent belief systems about the helpfulness of specific interventions; and third, to discuss how to ameliorate mental health literacy and antistigma strategies. Method: Participants of a representative telephone survey in the general population ( n = 1737) were presented with a vignette depicting a person with either schizophrenia or depression. From a list of suggestions, they were asked to recommend treatments for this person. We used a factor analysis to group these proposals and used the factors as the dependent variables in a multiple regression analysis. Results: Treatment suggestions are summarized in 4 groups, each characterizing a specific therapeutic approach: 1) psychopharmacological proposals (that is, psychotropic drugs), 2) therapeutic counselling (from a psychologist or psychiatrist or psychotherapy), 3) alternative suggestions (such as homeopathy), and 4) social advice (for example, from a social worker). Medical treatments were proposed by people who had a higher education, who had a positive attitude toward psychopharmacology, who correctly recognized the person depicted in the vignette as being ill, who were presented with the schizophrenia vignette, who kept social distance, and who had contact with mentally ill people. The variables could explain alternative and social treatment proposals only to a small extent. Conclusions: The public's beliefs about treatment for people with mental illness are organized into 4 coherent systems, 2 of which involve evidence-based treatments. Medical treatment proposals are influenced by adequate mental health literacy; however, they are also linked to more social distance toward people with mental illness. Additionally, efforts to better explain nonmedical treatment suggestions are needed. Implications for further antistigma strategies are discussed.

Mental Health Education and Literacy in Schools

2021 ◽  
pp. 589-608
Author(s):  
Matthew Dale
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Mental Health Education ◽  
Health Promotion And Education

This chapter will look at the current situation concerning youth mental health in Australia and provide information about youth mental health literacy, which was first coined by Jorm in 1997. A literature review of current Australian mental health promotion and education programs being offered in schools will be conducted as well as examples of some of the better-known ones that have been implemented internationally. The evolution of mental health education in Australian schools will be examined so as to provide a perspective of how some of the current programs came into being or existence. The main aim of this chapter will be to highlight the high prevalence of mental illness that exists amongst young people in Australia and how implementing mental health education in schools can be beneficial and helpful in improving their mental health and wellbeing. Mental health education in schools can help in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness. Another benefit is that young people will be able to identify mental health problems earlier amongst their peers and in themselves, which can lead to early help seeking, especially due to young people gaining a higher level of mental health literacy through mental health education programs.

Mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes: a systematic review on cultural influencers and barriers to athletes seeking treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 707-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
João Guilherme de Mello e Gallinaro ◽  
Rodrigo Scialfa Falcão ◽  
Vincent Gouttebarge ◽  
Mary E Hitchcock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Health Symptoms

ObjectiveTo summarise the literature on the barriers to athletes seeking mental health treatment and cultural influencers of mental health in elite athletes.DesignSystematic reviewData sourcesPubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, SportDiscus (Ebsco), and PsycINFO (ProQuest) up to November 2018.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesQualitative and quantitative original studies of elite athletes (those who competed at the professional, Olympic, or collegiate/university levels), published in any language.ResultsStigma, low mental health literacy, negative past experiences with mental health treatment-seeking, busy schedules, and hypermasculinity are barriers to elite athletes seeking mental health treatment. Cultural influencers of mental health in elite athletes include: (1) the lack of acceptance of women as athletes; (2) lower acceptability of mental health symptoms and disorders among non-white athletes; (3) non-disclosure of religious beliefs; and (4) higher dependence on economic benefits. Coaches have an important role in supporting elite athletes in obtaining treatment for mental illness. Brief anti-stigma interventions in elite athletes decrease stigma and improve literary about mental health.ConclusionThere is a need for various actors to provide more effective strategies to overcome the stigma that surrounds mental illness, increase mental health literacy in the athlete/coach community, and address athlete-specific barriers to seeking treatment for mental illness. In this systematic review, we identified strategies that, if implemented, can overcome the cultural factors that may otherwise limit athletes seeking treatment. Coaches are critical for promoting a culture within elite athletes’ environments that encourages athletes to seek treatment.

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