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.

scholarly journals Effect of a peer‐led intervention combining mental health promotion with coping‐strategy‐based workshops on mental health awareness, help‐seeking behavior, and wellbeing among university students in Hong Kong

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu ◽  
Dalinda Isabel Sánchez Vidaña ◽  
Donald Lipardo ◽  
Parth Bharat Shah ◽  
Pablo Cruz González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
University Students ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Help Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The psychological well-being of university students is an important factor in successfully coping with the demands of academic life. This study aimed to assess the impact of a peer-led intervention of mental health promotion combined with coping-strategy-based group workshops on mental health awareness and help-seeking behavior among university students in Hong Kong. Method A mixed-method concurrent design was used for this study. Quantitative data, based on one-group pretest-posttest design, were collected using Mental Health Knowledge Schedule Questionnaire to assess mental health awareness, and Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Help Questionnaire-Short Form to examine help-seeking behavior of university students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Qualitative data were collected from written post-activity reflections and focus group discussions which were thematically analyzed. Results A total of 62 university students (mean age: 23.2 ± 5.1 years) were included in this study. Mental health awareness was significantly improved (p = 0.015, 95% Confidence Interval of − 2.670, − 0.297) after program implementation. Help-seeking behavior mean score increased from pretest to posttest, however, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.188, 95% CI = − 1.775, 0.355). Qualitative analysis revealed that the program helped participants learn about coping strategies to help themselves and others with mental health challenges. Conclusions The peer-led intervention provided a positive impact through increased mental health awareness and knowledge of coping strategies on self-help and helping others among university students. Further study could focus on the impact of the program when applied regularly throughout the entire academic year.

Pilot Community Mental Health Awareness Campaign Improves Service Coverage in India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shivani Mathur Gaiha ◽  
Fazlur Rahman Gulfam ◽  
Iram Siddiqui ◽  
Rangashri Kishore ◽  
Sujaya Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Service Coverage

scholarly journals A Mobile Phone App to Improve the Mental Health of Taxi Drivers: Single-Arm Feasibility Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Davidson ◽  
Susan Fletcher ◽  
Greg Wadley ◽  
Nicola Reavley ◽  
Jane Gunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Taxi Drivers ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Self Help

BACKGROUND Psychological distress among taxi drivers is 5 times higher than that in the general population, and more than half of all drivers have experienced 3 or more potentially traumatic events in their lifetime. Nevertheless, help-seeking for mental health problems in this male-dominated, predominately immigrant workforce is low. Mobile technologies have the potential to increase mental health awareness, teach self-help skills, and encourage help-seeking in this hard-to-reach population. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of <italic>Driving to Health</italic>, a mobile phone–friendly mental health website app designed for people working as taxi drivers. METHODS Drivers (n=46) were recruited from the Melbourne Airport Taxi Holding Yard to participate in a single-arm trial. Self-reported, paper-based assessments were completed at baseline and at 1 month. Feasibility was measured by completion rates, representativeness of study participants, and levels of use. Acceptability was assessed by measuring users’ perception of the quality of the app and anticipated levels of future use. The efficacy of <italic>Driving to Health</italic> to increase awareness, self-help behaviors, and intentions to seek help was assessed using the user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ). Psychological symptoms were measured using the short form of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using complete case analysis. RESULTS In total, 42 participants comprising drivers from 10 different countries of origin, and 14 different languages, completed pre- and poststudy measures (42/46, 91% completion rate). Just under half (45%) of all users used the app more than once with an average visit of 4 min 8 seconds. Responding to the uMARS, 62% (26/42) of the participants said that they would recommend the app to many people. Nearly all (40/42, 95%) participants said that <italic>Driving to Health</italic> increased awareness of their own mental health; 86% (36/42) said that it increased their mental health knowledge; and 76% (32/42) said that it increased their self-help behaviors. Increases in help-seeking intentions on the GHSQ were not significant, and increases on all 3 scales of DASS-21 were not reliable or meaningful. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that <italic>Driving to Health</italic> is an acceptable and feasible electronic health intervention for a hard-to-reach population. Our findings also suggest that <italic>Driving to Health</italic> results in increases in mental health awareness, behaviors, and willingness to seek help.

scholarly journals A Mobile Phone App to Improve the Mental Health of Taxi Drivers: Single-Arm Feasibility Trial

10.2196/13133 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e13133
Author(s):  
Sandra Davidson ◽  
Susan Fletcher ◽  
Greg Wadley ◽  
Nicola Reavley ◽  
Jane Gunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Taxi Drivers ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Self Help

Background Psychological distress among taxi drivers is 5 times higher than that in the general population, and more than half of all drivers have experienced 3 or more potentially traumatic events in their lifetime. Nevertheless, help-seeking for mental health problems in this male-dominated, predominately immigrant workforce is low. Mobile technologies have the potential to increase mental health awareness, teach self-help skills, and encourage help-seeking in this hard-to-reach population. Objective This study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of Driving to Health, a mobile phone–friendly mental health website app designed for people working as taxi drivers. Methods Drivers (n=46) were recruited from the Melbourne Airport Taxi Holding Yard to participate in a single-arm trial. Self-reported, paper-based assessments were completed at baseline and at 1 month. Feasibility was measured by completion rates, representativeness of study participants, and levels of use. Acceptability was assessed by measuring users’ perception of the quality of the app and anticipated levels of future use. The efficacy of Driving to Health to increase awareness, self-help behaviors, and intentions to seek help was assessed using the user version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (uMARS) and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ). Psychological symptoms were measured using the short form of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using complete case analysis. Results In total, 42 participants comprising drivers from 10 different countries of origin, and 14 different languages, completed pre- and poststudy measures (42/46, 91% completion rate). Just under half (45%) of all users used the app more than once with an average visit of 4 min 8 seconds. Responding to the uMARS, 62% (26/42) of the participants said that they would recommend the app to many people. Nearly all (40/42, 95%) participants said that Driving to Health increased awareness of their own mental health; 86% (36/42) said that it increased their mental health knowledge; and 76% (32/42) said that it increased their self-help behaviors. Increases in help-seeking intentions on the GHSQ were not significant, and increases on all 3 scales of DASS-21 were not reliable or meaningful. Conclusions This study suggests that Driving to Health is an acceptable and feasible electronic health intervention for a hard-to-reach population. Our findings also suggest that Driving to Health results in increases in mental health awareness, behaviors, and willingness to seek help.

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 Let's talk madness: a critical discourse analysis of personal stories used in the Bell Let's Talk campaign

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailee Koranne
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Personal Stories ◽  
And Gender

This study analyzes a sampling of the personal stories used in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign, an annual mental health awareness campaign started in 2010 by Bell, a large Canadian telecommunications company. Using the method of critical discourse analysis, this paper discusses the ideologies regarding madness, race, and gender that inform the communications of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. This MRP aims to create an awareness of the limitations of such campaigns and the effects that these representations may have on the way we view madness and mad people.

scholarly journals Let's talk madness: a critical discourse analysis of personal stories used in the Bell Let's Talk campaign

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shailee Koranne
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Mental Health Awareness ◽  
Personal Stories ◽  
And Gender

This study analyzes a sampling of the personal stories used in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign, an annual mental health awareness campaign started in 2010 by Bell, a large Canadian telecommunications company. Using the method of critical discourse analysis, this paper discusses the ideologies regarding madness, race, and gender that inform the communications of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. This MRP aims to create an awareness of the limitations of such campaigns and the effects that these representations may have on the way we view madness and mad people.

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