Effects of school-based mental health literacy education for secondary school students to be delivered by school teachers: A preliminary study

AimsImproving 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. MethodsThe 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. ResultsKnowledge of mental health/illnesses and desirable behavior for help-seeking were significantly improved immediately after (post-test, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively) and 3 months after the program (3-month follow up, P<0.001 and P<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 (P<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 (P<0.001) elevated at post-test and at 3 months compared with the pre-test. ConclusionsA concise, school-staff-led program may have a significant effect on the improvement of MHL in secondary school students.