COVID-19 in Brazil: Are there any differences in Mental Health Literacy between young and aged men?

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the Mental Health Literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Method: a qualitative study conducted with 87 men by means of an asynchronous online survey. The data were processed in the NVIVO12® software, structured with the Collective Subject Discourse method and analyzed through Anthony Jorm’s theoretical concept of Mental Health Literacy. Results: six central ideas emerged from the analysis of a synthesis discourse on the components of the Mental Health Literacy, namely: Ability to recognize specific disorders or different types of psychological distress; Knowledge and beliefs about risk factors and causes; Knowledge and beliefs about self-help interventions; Knowledge and beliefs about available professional help; Attitudes that facilitate recognition and the search for adequate help; and Knowledge on how to seek information on mental health. Conclusion: there are differences in the mental health literacy of young and aged men living in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aged men were more competent for mental health care management and protection than young men, in relation to the Mental Health Literacy levels.

SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil and Psychosocial Repercussions on Men’s Health: Health Literacy Is Important

“…It is understood that the population’s stigmatizing beliefs about mental health can affect the search for help from other people. There are more chances to obtain professional help for mental health issues when another person recommends that such help be sought; therefore, the opinions either by close or by distant people can also be influential ( Jorm, 2012 ; Moreira et al., 2022 ). In addition to that, it can be associated with closure and/or minimization in the operation of many health services on which many men depend, such as mental health services or support services for alcohol/drugs/sexually transmitted infections ( Santos et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Recent evidence shows that men experienced high rates of common mental disorders due to the pandemic scenario (de Sousa, Teixeira, et al, 2022;Morgan et al, 2021;Teixeira et al, 2022). Traits of hegemonic masculinity were associated with a higher degree of illness, causing physical, social, and mental harms, characterized as psychosocial repercussions (de Sousa, Moreira, et al, 2022).…”