Mental Health Education and Literacy in Schools

2019 ◽  
pp. 205-225
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 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.

scholarly journals Emerging Trends in Mental Health Education – An Empirical Investigation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Education ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Emerging Trends

Mental health education/literacy refers to the beliefs and knowledge regarding mental issues and disorders,aiding the management, recognition and/or prevention of these disorders in effective and efficient ways.The significance of mental health education/literacy has been investigated all over the world, unfortunatelylacking focused in Pakistan therefore this study is aimed to identify and investigate emerging trends inmental health education/literacy and studied them in context of Pakistan. For this purpose, subject studyidentified literature related to the literacy in mental health through different databases; Cochrane, PubMed,PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and LINSON, by using terms mental health literacy, emerging trends, emergingissues in mental health education/literacy. Study identified that there is limited and dearth knowledgeregarding mental illness and treatments for mental illness among public. This review also highlights theimportance 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 anemendation in approaches established for attaining the goal of public health and psychiatric care. Practicalimplications. Findings have implications for practitioners in the field of mental health care as well asdesigning targeted interventions for enhancing mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior in thefuture.Keywords: Pakistan, Mental health literacy, Mental health, Review, Mental health perception

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Positive Mental Health Literacy and Mental Well-Being Among Adolescents: Implications for School Health Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanne N. Bjørnsen ◽  
Geir A. Espnes ◽  
Mary-Elizabeth B. Eilertsen ◽  
Regine Ringdal ◽  
Unni K. Moksnes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Health Services ◽  
School Health ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Education ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
The Relationship

Mental health education is a central part of school nurses’ practice. Mental health literacy is an asset for health that educational initiatives can strengthen, and a significant determinant of mental health. This study was intended to examine the relationship between positive mental health literacy (PMeHL) and mental well-being to discuss its implications for school health services’ mental health education. The relationship was assessed using a multiple linear regression model controlling for relevant covariates. Data were derived from a cross-sectional school-based survey including 1,888 adolescents aged 15–21 years (response rate 97.3%). A weak gender difference was found in PMeHL. The regression model accounted for 41% of the variance in adolescents’ mental well-being; PMeHL was a significant explanatory variable of mental well-being. Accordingly, the current study found support for including PMeHL, or knowledge of how to obtain and maintain good mental health, as an integral component of school health services’ mental health education among adolescents.

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.

Enhancing mental health literacy in young people

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 567-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Kutcher ◽  
Yifeng Wei ◽  
Susana Costa ◽  
Ricardo Gusmão ◽  
Norbert Skokauskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Literacy

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.

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