scholarly journals Mental Health Awareness Phone Polling Survey: Focus on Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practice, Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Abdulhameed Abdullah Alhabeeb ◽  
Saed Salem Alasmari ◽  
Rashid Abdullah Alduraihem ◽  
Naseem Akhtar Qureshi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Mental Health Awareness

Background: Mental health awareness surveys that assess the broad knowledge of various stakeholders including public nationwide help in the development of relevant strategies to enhance their poor mental health literacy. Objective: The aim of this telephone polling survey was to measure mental health awareness of general public in Saudi Arabia. Method: The participants (n=1068) randomly selected from 13 regions of Saudi Arabia were contacted by 15 trained Saudi girl interviewers for conducting 30-minutes individual interview in Arabic language using a self-designed 15-item questionnaire. Results: About one fourth of responders (23%) reported either personal or family member having mental disorder, and depression and anxiety disorders were the commonest problems. Stigma against mental disorders and consulting health professionals, misperceptions towards psychotropics and social exclusion and shame were variably reported by the participants. Though the participants perceived barriers to have access to MH services, 55% of responders reported MH services were of good to excellent grade, and the two most common help-seeking modes were psychiatric and religious and spiritual service providers. Conclusion: Although this community participatory mental health polling survey is found to have encouraging mental health literacy of public participants, evidence based training programs and campaigns for further improving people mental health literacy are needed in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Arabian Gulf countries.

scholarly journals The Nepal earthquake: use of a disaster to improve mental health literacy

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Shakya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Awareness

People were not well prepared for the psychological aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015. A higher rate of mental disorder was noted in the ensuing months and there was a need to develop psychosocial interventions, especially for those with poor mental health literacy. Acceptable, affordable and accessible mental health awareness programmes were required. Through examples of strategies adopted by the author, this article asserts that the aftermath of natural disasters can give mental health professionals opportunities to improve mental health literacy.

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.

scholarly journals Suicide-related Twitter Content in Response to a National Mental Health Awareness Campaign and the Association between the Campaign and Suicide Rates in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-467
Author(s):  
David Côté ◽  
Marissa Williams ◽  
Rabia Zaheer ◽  
Thomas Niederkrotenthaler ◽  
Ayal Schaffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Control Window ◽  
National Mental Health

Objective: Mental health awareness (MHA) campaigns have been shown to be successful in improving mental health literacy, decreasing stigma, and generating public discussion. However, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the effects of these campaigns on behavioral outcomes such as suicides. Therefore, the objective of this article is to characterize the association between the event and suicide in Canada’s most populous province and the content of suicide-related tweets referencing a Canadian MHA campaign (Bell Let’s Talk Day [BLTD]). Methods: Suicide counts during the week of BTLD were compared to a control window (2011 to 2016) to test for associations between the BLTD event and suicide. Suicide tweets geolocated to Ontario, posted in 2016 with the BLTD hashtag were coded for specific putatively harmful and protective content. Results: There was no associated change in suicide counts. Tweets ( n = 3,763) mainly included content related to general comments about suicide death (68%) and suicide being a problem (42.8%) with little putatively helpful content such as stories of resilience (0.6%) and messages of hope (2.2%). Conclusions: In Ontario, this national mental health media campaign was associated with a high volume of suicide-related tweets but not necessarily including content expected to diminish suicide rates. Campaigns like BLTD should strongly consider greater attention to suicide-related messaging that promotes help-seeking and resilience. This may help to further decrease stigmatization, and potentially, reduce suicide rates.

Mental Health Literacy, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Outcomes in Women Rugby Players

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Shakiba Oftadeh-Moghadam ◽  
Paul Gorczynski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Rugby Players

Within rugby, a plethora of research has focused on male rugby players, with some recent attention being directed to examining their mental health. Such attention has not been evident for their female rugby counterparts. The aims of this study were to ascertain levels of mental health literacy (MHL) and explore demographic differences in United Kingdom semielite rugby players who identified as women, and examine whether MHL is associated with better mental health outcomes and general help-seeking intentions. In total, 208 semielite women rugby players completed an online multisection questionnaire measuring MHL, general help-seeking intentions, distress, and well-being. Overall, most players scored a low rating of well-being; however, those who indicated a previous mental health problem exhibited significantly higher levels of MHL. Players were more likely to display general help-seeking intentions toward an intimate partner or a friend than a health care professional. High levels of distress were reported in 64.4% of players, particularly those who had been previously medically diagnosed with a mental disorder and bisexual rugby players. MHL was significantly, positively correlated with general help-seeking intentions, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being. This study is the first to examine MHL in women rugby players and suggests that strategies devised by multidisciplinary teams of experts to help promote, engage, and offer tailored mental health support to women rugby players would be beneficial. Further investigations exploring the determinants of, and barriers to, MHL among women rugby players would be worthwhile to better understand and support players throughout their sporting career.

Golden Jubilee Travel Fellowship 2016

2020 ◽  
pp. 206-206
Author(s):  
Folashade Adenekan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Travel Fellowship ◽  
Golden Jubilee

In Golden Jubilee Travel Fellowship 2016 Folashade Adenekan briefly explores her interest in the management of psychological ill-health in the workplace, and her work with ‘sick doctors’ in Nigeria where there was poor mental health awareness.

scholarly journals Examining mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviours, distress, and wellbeing in UK coaches

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 713-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Gorczynski ◽  
Kass Gibson ◽  
Nathan Clarke ◽  
Tyrone Mensah ◽  
Rory Summers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Previous Diagnosis ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Although research has explored stress in coaches, little is known about their mental health literacy and how this is associated with their mental health. Their mental health literacy may have an impact on the wellbeing of their young players. This study examined levels of mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviours, distress, and wellbeing, as well as relationships amongst these variables, in coaches in the United Kingdom. Coaches were recruited through social media and asked to fill out questionnaires. A total of 103 coaches ( n = 65 men, n = 37 women, n = 1 other gender) participated in the study. Coaches had an average age of 27.9 (SD = 10.6) years. Most self-identified as heterosexual ( n = 85, 82.5%), had four or more years of experience ( n = 46, 44.7%), coached children ( n = 77, 74.8%), and coached at either the beginner ( n = 30, 29.1%) or amateur levels ( n = 66, 64.1%). In total, 20 (19.4%) coaches indicated a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder. A total of 51 (49.5%) coaches indicated that, at the time of the completion of the survey, they exhibited symptoms of a mental disorder. Overall, the average mental health literacy score was 123.10 and lower than in previous studies. Mental health literacy was not significantly associated with help-seeking behaviour, distress, or wellbeing. General help-seeking behaviour was positively correlated with wellbeing. The results suggest that coach certification programmes could adopt strategies to help coaches improve their knowledge of mental health services and how such services may be accessed. These changes may improve the wellbeing of coaches and may benefit their athletes.

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