Mental health literacy of the Lebanese population (MHeLLP): a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rim Taleb ◽  
Nayla Kassab ◽  
Asmaa Kebbe ◽  
Nour Kreidieh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Lebanese Population

Purpose This study primarily aims to evaluate the mental health literacy (MHL) of the Lebanese adult population in an attempt to yield results that can help fill the gap in the literature and support the development of new strategies to counter mental health stigma. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was composed of the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule and select questions from the Community Attitudes toward the Mentally Ill and MHL Scale. The surveys were collected from a representative population of sample size (n = 386) among the different governorates of Lebanon. The participants, aged 18–65 years and literate, were recruited between July 2018 and September 2018 from supermarkets widely distributed across the country. Findings The results showed that the Lebanese population possesses average knowledge and certain stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illnesses. Curricular education and awareness campaigns may help refine the image of mental illness among the population. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first in Lebanon to assess the MHL of its population as a whole. It gives insight into the common misconceptions about mental illness and patterns of the related stigma that are prevalent in the Lebanese society today.

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 Mental health literacy in Pakistan: a narrative review

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubina Begum ◽  
Fahad Riaz Choudhry ◽  
Tahir Mehmood Khan ◽  
Faizah Safina Bakrin ◽  
Yaser Mohammed Al-Worafi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Targeted Interventions

Purpose The term “Mental health literacy” is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention. The importance of health literacy for physical health is widely studied; however, the area of mental health literacy in Pakistan has been comparatively neglected. The purpose of this paper is to address the knowledge about mental health in people living in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach Relevant literature relating to mental health literacy was identified through various database searches. The databases searched included: PubMed, Cochrane database of Systemic Reviews, PsycINFO using the terms mental health, mental health literacy, mental health education, Pakistan. Findings Literature suggests that there is dearth of knowledge about mental illnesses and their treatment among public. This review also highlights the importance of mental health literacy among professionals working in the field of health care. In Pakistan, due to low literacy rate, a high percentage of poverty and dearth of trained professionals warrants an emendation in approaches established for attaining the goal of public health and psychiatric care. Practical implications Findings have implications for practitioners in the field of mental health care as well as designing targeted interventions for enhancing mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior in the future. Originality/value A limited understanding and lack of improvement in mental health literacy may interfere with society’s acceptance of evidence-based mental health care which may hamper the delivery of adequate mental health services to the needy.

Paradigm 6: Improved Knowledge About Mental Illness Will Eradicate Stigma

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Stuart ◽  
Julio Arboleda-Flórez ◽  
Norman Sartorius
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Social Rejection ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Clear Distinction

Chapter 7 discusses the differences between misconceptions that respond to information, and prejudices that are deep-seated and resistant to change. It is important to maintain a clear distinction between programs that are designed to reduce disability by improving mental health literacy and help-seeking, from those designed to decrease stigma and social rejection. There is a danger that increased understanding of the neurobiological basis for mental illnesses engenders stigma by sharpening divisions between what is considered “normal” and “abnormal” and by consolidating stereotypes of immutability, uncontrollability, and dangerousness.

scholarly journals Mental health literacy of healthcare providers in Arab Gulf countries: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowaida Elyamani ◽  
Hamed Hammoud
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Gulf Countries ◽  
Arab Gulf ◽  
Main Components

Background: The concept of Mental Health Literacy (MHL) relies on our capacity to understand and recognize mental illnesses and the ability to maintain and promote a positive mentality for ourselves and others. In our review, we aim to examine the level of MHL among healthcare providers in the Arab Gulf States.Methods: PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline were searched till August 2019. Studies were included if at least one of the main components of mental health literacy was reported, including (a) knowledge of mental illnesses, (b) stigma towards mental illnesses, (c) confidence in helping patients, and (d) behavior of helping patients, regardless of study design. The risk of bias was rated according to the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cross-sectional studies.Results: Seven studies were included in the review; all of them were cross-sectional, with a total of 3516 participants from the healthcare system. Overall most of the studies claimed limited knowledge, negative attitudes, behavior and/or confidence among nurses, pharmacists, and physicians, especially juniors. However, the overall quality of all outcomes was relatively very low.Conclusions: More high-quality evidence and in-depth qualitative studies are required to bridge the gap between mental health needs and services delivered by healthcare providers in the Gulf Arab region.Keywords: Mental disorders, health literacy, healthcare workers, stigma, attitude, knowledge

Mental health training for Australian undergraduate paramedic science students: a review

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 ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper aims to present the current state of evidence regarding the mental health literacy of paramedics and student paramedics and whether mental health literacy affects the care that paramedics provide to their patients with mental illness. Design/methodology/approach Embase, PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar were searched for recent (2010–2020) English language published articles using the key phrases paramedic AND/OR ambulance AND mental health AND mental health literacy. Additional searches of the reference lists of included articles were undertaken. A descriptive thematic analysis was used to arrive at a narrative synthesis of the study findings. Findings The emergency medical services system has taken a primary role in the care of patients with mental illness but has limited capacity for non-emergency psychosocial situations. Negative and judgemental attitudes amongst paramedics towards patients with mental illness is a significant issue and remains a barrier to patients seeking medical care for mental illness. Improved care provision and patient engagement might result from specific education aimed to better enhance paramedics’ mental health literacy. Originality/value This literature review provides insights into the current practice of mental health training for Australian undergraduate paramedic science students and the implications for patient care. Recommendations for educational strategies are provided.

scholarly journals Stigma among Singaporean youth: a cross-sectional study on adolescent attitudes towards serious mental illness and social tolerance in a multiethnic population

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e016432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirlene Pang ◽  
Jianlin Liu ◽  
Mithila Mahesh ◽  
Boon Yiang Chua ◽  
Shazana Shahwan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Social Tolerance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Multiethnic Population

ObjectivesStigma against mental illnesses is one of the significant obstacles faced by mental health service users and providers. It can develop at a young age and is also influenced by culture. Youths in Southeast Asian countries are under-represented in mental health research, thus this study aims to explore the dimensions of stigma and social tolerance and examine its correlates in the younger, multiethnic population of Singapore.DesignAn online survey collected data with sociodemographic questions, the Attitudes Towards Serious Mental Illness (Adolescent version) Scale, Social Tolerance Scale and an open-text question on words or phrases participants associated with the term ‘mental illness’. Principal component analysis and multiple regression models were conducted to investigate the factor structure of the attitudes and social tolerance scales and their sociodemographic correlates.ParticipantsParticipants included 940 youths aged 14–18 years old who were residing in Singapore at the time of the survey and were recruited through local schools.ResultsAbout a quarter of the students (22.6%) reported participating in mental health awareness campaigns while nearly half (44.5%) associated pejorative words and phrases with the term mental illness. The Attitudes Towards Serious Mental Illness (Adolescent version) Scale yielded five factors while the Social Tolerance Scale yielded two. Ethnicity, gender and nationality were significantly correlated with factors of both scales. Chinese youths showed higher sense of ’physical threat' and lower ’social tolerance' than those of other ethnicities. Females showed more ’wishful thinking', ’social concern' and ’social responsibility' towards the mentally ill than males.ConclusionsThe dimensions of stigma and social tolerance are different in Asian cultures compared with Western cultures. Sociodemographic differences in attitudes towards the mentally ill were found among youths living in Singapore. Misconceptions and negative attitudes towards mental illness are common, demonstrating a clear need for effective stigma reduction campaigns.

Enhancing mental health literacy in India to reduce stigma: the fountainhead to improve help-seeking behaviour

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Mathur Gaiha ◽  
Greeshma Ann Sunil ◽  
Rajeev Kumar ◽  
Subhadra Menon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Purpose – Lack of understanding around mental illness and stigma are an overwhelming barrier in help-seeking behaviour for mental health concerns. The purpose of this paper is to examine mental health literacy and social attitudes as instrumental factors in building capacity of the demand-side to support and access mental health care at the community level in India. Design/methodology/approach – Knowledge, Attitude and Practice surveys were administered to 521 persons from the general population, distributed equally in the age range of 15-60 years. The study included 52 respondents per district from ten districts across five states in India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The responses were collected and analysed thematically, keeping in mind the relevance of these findings as contributors to knowledge of mental health and to the construct of stigma. Findings – Pervasive socio-cultural factors, especially stigma inhibit access to basic mental health information and care, despite knowledge that mental illness is treatable. Degrading treatment, loss of personal liberty and social exclusion, i.e. compromised human rights at the community level are widespread. Self-reported attitudes when encountering a person with mental illness show that respondents act out of fear and are guided by misinformation and myths. Extant knowledge on mental health is attributed predominantly to informal networks, as a potential resource to be strengthened. Practical implications – Realising mental health care, including help-seeking behaviour calls for greater knowledge-sharing, sensitisation and community engagement. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need to study current levels of mental health literacy and underlying perceptions that contribute to the persistent treatment gap.

Mental health literacy about depression and schizophrenia among adolescents in Sweden

2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 404-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.A. Melas ◽  
E. Tartani ◽  
T. Forsner ◽  
M. Edhborg ◽  
Y. Forsell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
Low Levels

AbstractBackgroundMental health literacy (MHL) refers to an individual's knowledge of mental disorders, including the ability to recognize psychopathology and being aware of help options. Most studies of MHL have focused on adults.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine levels of MHL among adolescents.MethodsMHL was examined using two pre-established vignettes that presented an adolescent with symptoms of either depression or schizophrenia. The respondents were 426 adolescents (age mean = 16). Vignette data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively.ResultsThe data showed that 42.7% and 34.7% of the respondents identified depression and schizophrenia, respectively. Depression was recognized more often by females than males. Professional help was suggested by a minority of the respondents for managing symptoms of depression (22.5%) or schizophrenia (32.6%). Altruistic behaviors, examined through the willingness to help an acquaintance with mental illness symptoms, were apparent among 58.2% of the respondents and to a greater extent in females than males. Answers following the schizophrenia vignette also revealed stigmatizing attitudes in 11.5% of the participants.ConclusionsThere are relatively low levels of MHL among teenagers in Sweden. Awareness campaigns and the implementation of psychoeducation in the school curriculum could increase MHL in this group.

scholarly journals Mental health literacy and quality of life in Iran: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Jafari ◽  
Mahbobeh Nejatian ◽  
Vahideh Momeniyan ◽  
Fatemeh Ramezani Barsalani ◽  
Hadi Tehrani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Mental health is one of the effective factors in the quality of life of people. The aim of the present study was to determine the status of mental health literacy (MHL) and its relationship with the quality of life across the Iranian general population. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a multi-stage sampling method was used to survey 1070 participants from the city of Gonabad (Iran). The data collection tools were demographics section, mental health literacy scale (MHLS), and quality of life (SF-12) questionnaires. The data was analyzed by SPSS software version 24 using Independent sample t- test, One- way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression. Results The mean and standard deviation of the total scores of MHL and quality of life were 113.54 (10.34) and 35.26 (6.42), respectively. The results revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between MHL and the quality of life (p < 0.001). In this study, there was a significant relationship between variables of sex, level of education, plus received information about mental illness and MHL (p < 0.001). The quality of life was higher in participants whose family members did not have a mental illness, had a high-income level, and received information about mental illness (p < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that there was a significant relationship between the ability to recognize mental disorders plus knowledge of where to seek information and obtaining information related to mental health (p < 0.001). Conclusion Based on the results of this study, there was a correlation between health literacy and quality of life, and more attention should be paid to MHL. Thus, appropriate programs should be designed and implemented to enhance the level of MHL.

scholarly journals Stigma versus Mental Health Literacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Ibrahim Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Evil Spirit ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Public

Background: A sound mental health is the key component of health and the absence of mental health could create a great deal of burden to the functioning of a nation. As well the attitudes of the public towards mental health issues are important factors in fighting the stigma with mental disorders Aim: To investigate the Saudi people level of mental health literacy and attitudes regarding mental disorders and those affected people. Participants and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was used and a convenient sample of 255 subjects from general Saudi population attending to general public collections area, such as, shopping malls, universities, and restaurants in Jeddah city. The tool consisted of sociodemographic data sheet and self-administered checklist developed by Kumar et al., 2012 for assessing the attitude and awareness level of public towards mental disorders. Results: A total of 255 people were interviewed. Most of the respondents 66.3% were females and the majority of the studied population have little awareness and had negative attitude toward the nature of mental illness as well 72.2% indicted that Evil Spirit causing mental illness. Negative attitude responses were ranging from 47 -57% regarding stigmatization, after effect and treatment. Conclusion and recommendations: the findings concluded that there was a decreased level of mental health literacy among studied population as well as negative attitudes and stigmatization of mental illness. Therefore, more work needs to be done to educate the public about the psychobiological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders and the value of effective treatments.

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