The impact of an educational mental health intervention on adolescents' perceptions of mental illness

Abstract

Nowadays, in many countries, mental health care is primarily community based. Community perceptions of mental illness are an essential issue for the quality of life of people with mental health problems and the promotion of mental health in general. The aim of this study was to explore adolescents' perceptions of mental illness and to examine the extent to which those perceptions changed after an educational mental health intervention. The data were collected twice, before and after the educational mental health intervention. Fifty-nine pupils from two Greek secondary schools were individually interviewed, and data were analyzed by inductive content analysis. The findings show that adolescents can provide a rich description of mental illness in a multidimensional way. After the intervention, they provide different descriptions, identify various forms of mental illness and express opinions on what mentally ill people need and how they should be treated. It is concluded that mental health educational interventions in schools can be effective in changing adolescents' perceptions towards mental illness.

Do universal school‐based mental health promotion programmes improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people? A literature review

“…The third theme apparent within eight studies was relating to providing the participants with an increased knowledge of MH and illness and changing negative attitudes and beliefs. Four authors (Economou et al., ; Essler, Arthur, & Stickley, ; Rickwood et al., ; Sakellari, Sourander, Kalokerinou‐Anagnostopoulou, & Leino‐Kilpi, ) reported that a psycho‐educational intervention increased knowledge of MH. Economou et al.…”

“…(), Sakellari et al. () and Ashdown and Bernard (), Whitcomb and Merrell () all used samples that were relatively small and therefore, it should be recognised that it is difficult to generalise their results to the wider population. High levels of attrition was also an issue for four of the included 29 studies (Barnes et al., ; Collins et al., ; Kimber et al., ; King et al., ).…”

How are depression and suicidal ideation associated with multiple health risk behaviours among adolescents? A secondary data analysis using the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web‐based Survey

“…When considering the high rate of depression and suicide rate among Korean adolescents, mental health nurses working in schools and community centres should implement multidimensional interventions considering both mental health promotion and at-risk HRBs (Katon et al, 2010). It would be helpful to apply school-based programmes strengthening adolescents' capacity such as positive self-esteem and coping skills, and cooperating parent participation and peer supports through promoting feeling of togetherness (Onnela, Vuokila-Oikkonen, Hurtig, & Ebeling, 2014;Sakellari, Sourander, Kalokerinou-Anagnostopoulou, & Leino-Kilpi, 2014).…”

“…In addition, Korean policymakers should develop population-level policy and foster environments that support families, schools and communities in addressing HRBs (Atilola et al, 2014;Sakellari et al, 2014). It would be required early identification of poor mental health and multiple HRBs, and rapid referral system to specialized health care for adolescents (Sakellari et al, 2014).…”

“…Preventive multiple HRB programmes should include education and evaluation for adolescents with poor mental health, and mental health screening should be considered as integral to the reduction of multiple HRBs. Those with multiple HRBs and poor mental healthshould be screened to receive psychological support including counselling, cognitive-behavioural therapy and family support, as well as the multidimensional intervention programmes(Onnela et al, 2014;Sakellari et al, 2014). In addition, preventive strategies to reduce multiple HRBs should mainly target drinking and smoking, and they should be sensitive to physical and mental health factors.…”