Determination of Mental Health Literacy of Health Vocational School Students SAĞLIK MESLEK YÜKSEKOKULU ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN RUH SAĞLIĞI OKURYAZARLIĞININ BELİRLENMESİ

TEKE G., ŞEN H., UĞRAK U.

Journal of Inonu University Vocational School of Health Services, cilt.12, sa.1, ss.164-178, 2024 (Scopus, TRDizin)

Özet

Mental health literacy, increasingly recognized for its influence on mental health behaviours, has garnered significant attention in scientific research. Its impact on early identification of mental illnesses, help-seeking tendencies, and prevention has been well-documented. This study sought to assess the mental health literacy of 507 university students between April and July 2023. Data collection involved voluntary consent, socio-demographic characteristics, and a mental health literacy scale. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed for structural validity assessment, while Kruskal Wallis H and Mann Whitney U tests determined the scale scores. The average mental health literacy score was 91.67 (±11.20), with specific dimensions scoring as follows: attitudes toward seeking help in mental problems (31.43 ±5.21), attitudes toward individuals with mental illness (16.64 ±4.62), ability to recognize mental disorders (31.63 ±3.95), and accessing information (11.96 ±2.19). Comparatively, the students' mental health literacy scores were notably low. This underscores the necessity for comprehensive training programs to enhance mental health literacy. Furthermore, further research is recommended to scrutinize the validity and reliability of the mental health literacy scale.