Comparing the mental health literacy of Chinese people in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: Implications for mental health promotion

Wong, Daniel Fu Keung; Cheng, Chi; Zhuang, Xiao Yu; Ng, Ting Kin; Pan, S. H.; He, Xuesong; Poon, Ada

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.06.032

Cited by 41 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Mental health and suicide-related stigma are well documented in China ( Xu et al, 2017 ). Chinese students have also been found to have less knowledge about mental health and suicide prevention ( Wong et al, 2017 ). They may thus be less aware of their symptoms, and may be afraid of public disclosure about their mental health status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and pilot evaluation of an online psychoeducational program for suicide prevention among university students: A randomised controlled trial

Han

Batterham

Calear

et al. 2018

Internet Interventions

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IntroductionSuicide is the second leading cause of death for the university aged population globally. A significant proportion of students with suicidal ideation or behaviours do not seek professional help. Few primary suicide prevention programs have specifically targeted help seeking for suicidal ideation or behaviours among university students.MethodsThis study reported the development and pilot test of a brief, two-module online psychoeducational program (ProHelp) that aimed to encourage help seeking for suicidal ideation and behaviours among university students. The program consists of two five-minute modules that address the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, stigmatising attitudes, and perceived barriers to help seeking. 156 Chinese university students and 101 Australian university students were recruited to evaluate the effectiveness of this program at post-test and one-month follow-up. Participants were randomly assigned to the psychoeducational program or an attention control program.ResultsOf the Chinese and Australian students who were randomised into the study, around 50% completed the twoday posttest survey, and 30% completed the one-month followup survey. Although no significant difference was found between the control and experimental group on professional help-seeking beliefs and intentions, both groups' help-seeking attitudes increased during the study (p = 0.003 for the posttest survey, and p = 0.008 for the followup survey). The experimental group in both countries demonstrated a significant improvement in suicide literacy at the post-test survey (p = 0.015) compared to control. Qualitative feedback indicated that the ProHelp program was user-friendly, clear, and helpful.ConclusionsThis study provides initial evidence that a brief online psychoeducational program could enhance university students' suicide literacy in both China and Australia. It also suggests that increasing suicide literacy might not be sufficient to improve students' help seeking, although effect sizes indicated that this lowintensity online approach shows promise in encouraging more positive beliefs towards help seeking and preparedness to help individuals with suicidal ideation among young people.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and pilot evaluation of an online psychoeducational program for suicide prevention among university students: A randomised controlled trial

Han

Batterham

Calear

et al. 2018

Internet Interventions

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“…Older individuals tend to have lower levels of mental illness recognition [11, 14]. Despite high rates of mental illness among females, there appear to be fewer gender differences in levels of recognition of depression or schizophrenia [11, 15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the public’s profile of mental health literacy in China: a nationwide study

2019

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BackgroundIn the wake of China’s massive economic development, attention has only recently turned to the enormous treatment gap that exists for mental health problems. Our study is the first comprehensive, national examination of the levels and correlates of the public’s ability to recognize mental illness in the community and suggest sources of help, setting a baseline to assess contemporary Chinese efforts.MethodsData were collected in China as part of the Stigma in Global Context – Mental Health Study (SGC-MHS) through face-to-face interviews using vignettes meeting clinical criteria for schizophrenia and major depression. Our analysis targets the Han Chinese participants (n = 1812). Differences in the recognition of mental health problems were assessed using a chi-square test and further stratified by vignette illness type and urban vs. rural residence. Adjusted regression models estimated the effects of each predictor towards the endorsement three types of help-seeking: medical doctor, psychiatrist, and mental health professional.ResultsAs expected, recognition of mental health problems is low; it is better for depression and most accurate in urban areas. Perceived severity increases endorsement of the need for care and for treatment by all provider types. Recognition of a mental health problem specifically decreases endorsement of medical doctors while increasing recommendations for psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Neurobiological attributions decrease recommendations for mental health professionals as opposed to general or specialty physicians.ConclusionsContinued efforts are needed in China to promote mental illness recognition within rural areas, and of schizophrenia specifically. Promoting recognition of mental illness, while balancing the special challenges among individuals who understand the neurobiological roots of mental illness, may constitute a key strategy to reduce the sizeable mental health treatment gap in China.

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“…Existing cross‐cultural studies have demonstrated that, in general, compared to Western populations, non‐Western populations tend to show less knowledge of mental disorders and greater stigma toward mental illness (Altweck, Marshall, Ferenczi, & Lefringhausen, ). In a cross‐cultural context, Wong et al () compared the Chinese and Australian public's knowledge of mental illness. Compared to the Australian public, the Chinese samples comprised of four different communities in Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and had much lower percentages of recognition of depression and schizophrenia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…mental illness (Altweck, Marshall, Ferenczi, & Lefringhausen, 2015). In a cross-cultural context, Wong et al (2017) compared the Chinese and Australian public's knowledge of mental illness. Compared to the Australian public, the Chinese samples comprised of four different communities in Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and had much lower percentages of recognition of depression and schizophrenia.…”

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confidence: 99%

Recognition of, and beliefs about, causes of mental disorders: A cross‐sectional study of US and Chinese undergraduate nursing students

Liu

2018

Nursing & Health Sciences

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Nursing students' beliefs about etiology and manifestation of mental illness will impact on their professional attitudes in future clinical practice. The aims of the present study were to examine and compare US and Chinese undergraduate nursing students' recognition of, and beliefs about, causes of depression and schizophrenia. A total of 310 US (n = 152) and Chinese (n = 158) nursing students completed the Australian National Mental Health Literacy Survey questionnaire between April 2016 and April 2017. Although nursing students in the USA and China were highly accurate in recognizing depression and schizophrenia, the US students were more likely to nominate multiple items alongside the correct diagnosis than the Chinese students. The Chinese students were more likely to view depression and schizophrenia as multi-causally-determined mental disorders than the US students. The findings highlight the need for the incorporation of mental health issues, including symptomatology of different mental disorders and their application to patient care, into various aspects of the US nursing curriculum. In China, opportunities can be created for nursing students to discuss the impact of personal beliefs on care delivery and social stigma during clinical placement.

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Comparing the mental health literacy of Chinese people in Australia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan: Implications for mental health promotion

Cited by 41 publications

References 20 publications

Development and pilot evaluation of an online psychoeducational program for suicide prevention among university students: A randomised controlled trial

Development and pilot evaluation of an online psychoeducational program for suicide prevention among university students: A randomised controlled trial

Understanding the public’s profile of mental health literacy in China: a nationwide study

Recognition of, and beliefs about, causes of mental disorders: A cross‐sectional study of US and Chinese undergraduate nursing students

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