Evaluating mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours in UK university students: a country wide study

Abstract

Structured Abstract:Purpose: Despite high prevalence of mental health problems, few students know where to turn to for support. The aim of this study was to gain a UK wide perspective on levels of mental

Psychological distress and mental health literacy in university students

“…Similar to this study, two different studies conducted by Gorczynski et al 16 with university students in 2017 and 2020 suggested that the mean MHL scores of women and those who were previously diagnosed with mental health problems were high and statistically significant. 9,16 In the current study, the mean scores of females from the K10 and MHLS were found to be significantly higher than males (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). In the study of Marwood and Hearn, 14 the MHL levels were found to be higher in women who had previously received psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.…”

“…The study results and findings from the related literature state that men experience more psychological distress and have less knowledge of MHL. 9,14 These results state that men should be considered an important risk group regarding mental illnesses. Traditional gender roles expected of men are an important obstacle to their help-seeking behavior with respect to mental problems.…”

“…The researchers state that the lack of MHL is one of the most important reasons for this problem. 23 The mean MHL score was 123.5 ± 15.5 in the study conducted by Gorczynski et al 9 with university students, 127.69 ± 11.82 in the study conducted by Marwood and Hearn 14 with medical students, and the mean MHLS score was 107.37 ± 15.94 in the study conducted by Tokur Kesgin et al 12 with students and individuals from different segments of the society. Although the MHL 12 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) and MHLS 90 (60-115) median scores were low in this study, the MHL median scores 12 (0-22) and 17 (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22) were similar to the study conducted by Goktas et al 11 This result suggests that the rest of the students (78.2%) aside from those who stated to have no stress (21.8%) might have difficulty in managing their mental health problems.…”

“…The first approach within primary protection in mental health is to increase the mental health literacy (MHL) levels of university students. The studies conducted with university students show that they have low levels of MHL 9,10 . According to a study conducted with university students, moderate or more severe mental distress symptoms were detected in 78% of the students, while the MHL levels were lower than those of other studies 9 .…”

“…9 It is very important to determine the MHL level of university students because many students experience preventable or treatable mental health problems. 1,9,10 The most critical intervention strategy for promoting early diagnosis of and treatment for mental illnesses may be to increase individuals' MHL levels. Although the reliability and validity studies of the scales for MHL in Turkey have increased, 8,11,12 there haven't been sufficient studies about psychological distress and MHL of university students in Turkey.…”