Effects of school‐based mental health literacy education for secondary school students to be delivered by school teachers: A preliminary study. Issue 9 (1st July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ojio, Yasutaka; Yonehara, Hiromi; Taneichi, Setsuko; Yamasaki, Syudo; Ando, Shuntaro; Togo, Fumiharu; Nishida, Atsushi; Sasaki, Tsukasa
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences. Volume 69:Issue 9(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 572
• Page End: 579
• Publication Date: 2015-07-01
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12320
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1323-1316

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="pcn12320-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p>Improving knowledge and beliefs about mental health (or mental health literacy [MHL]) may promote appropriate help‐seeking by adolescents who are suffering from mental health problems. We developed a concise, school‐staff‐led MHL program and examined its effects.</p> </sec> <sec id="pcn12320-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The participants comprised 118 grade‐9 students (61 boys and 57 girls). The program consisted of two 50‐min sessions, and was given by a schoolteacher. The effects of the program were evaluated before, immediately after and 3 months after the program, using a self‐report questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec id="pcn12320-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Knowledge of mental health/illnesses and desirable behavior for help‐seeking were significantly improved immediately after (post‐test, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001, and <italic>P</italic> < 0.001, respectively) and 3 months after the program (3‐month follow up, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001 and <italic>P</italic> < 0.001, respectively), compared with the test before the delivery of the program (pre‐test, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Proportions of the correct diagnoses of vignette cases of major depression and schizophrenia were significantly (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) elevated from 38.3% and 19.1% (pre‐test) to 94.7% and 93.6% (post‐test), and 91.5% and 86.2% (3‐month follow up). Intentions to seek help and to provide peers with help with mental health problems were also significantly (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) elevated at post‐test and at 3 months compared with the pre‐test.</p> </sec> <sec id="pcn12320-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>A concise, school‐staff‐led program may have a significant effect on the improvement of MHL in secondary school students.</p> </sec> </abstract>