Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students

Mental health literacy (MHL) is defined as information about recognizing, managing, and preventing mental disorders. An increase in MHL in society will allow the behavior of individuals with mental illness to improve, decrease stigma, and allow these individuals to benefit from health services at an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Deniz Deniz Ozturan, Hanife Kocakaya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society of Turaz Bilim 2023-06-01
Series:Medicine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.medicinescience.org/?mno=149871
_version_ 1797316473379618816
author Deniz Deniz Ozturan
Hanife Kocakaya
author_facet Deniz Deniz Ozturan
Hanife Kocakaya
author_sort Deniz Deniz Ozturan
collection DOAJ
description Mental health literacy (MHL) is defined as information about recognizing, managing, and preventing mental disorders. An increase in MHL in society will allow the behavior of individuals with mental illness to improve, decrease stigma, and allow these individuals to benefit from health services at an optimal level. In line with this information, we intended to investigate the mental health literacy levels of medical faculty students. The study included 179 students aged 18-25 years. The socio-demographic data form, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) were applied. Mean age of the participants was 23.09±3.09, and 66.4% (n=119) were women. The rate of participants who had applied to a psychiatric clinic in the past was 37.4% (n=67). When those with psychiatric admissions were compared with those without psychiatric admission in terms of MHL and DASS-21, the mean scores of recognizing mental disorders (p=0.021), attitude towards individuals (0.004), MHL total scale (0.006), anxiety (p=0.016) and stress (p=0.045) were significantly higher in those with psychiatric admissions. Of the participants, 15.0% (n=27) had a his-tory of psychiatric disease. Recognition of mental disorders (p=0.023), attitude towards individuals (0.01), MHL total scale (0.028), depression (p=0.008), anxiety (p=0.001) and stress (p=0.001) mean scores of those with a history of psychiatric illness were significantly higher. Our findings showed that those with psychiatric admissions and a history of psychiatric illness had higher scores for rec-ognizing mental disorders, attitudes toward individuals, and total scores. Increasing the number of individuals with MHL will be beneficial for recognizing mental disorders, seeking professional help, and receiving appropriate treatment. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 479-83]
first_indexed 2024-03-08T03:19:51Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a543263a293a417babe04e268c6f5a79
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2147-0634
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T03:19:51Z
publishDate 2023-06-01
publisher Society of Turaz Bilim
record_format Article
series Medicine Science
spelling doaj.art-a543263a293a417babe04e268c6f5a792024-02-12T10:33:27ZengSociety of Turaz BilimMedicine Science2147-06342023-06-011224798310.5455/medscience.2023.04.054149871Evaluation of mental health literacy in university studentsDeniz Deniz Ozturan0Hanife Kocakaya1Ordu University Faculty of Medicine Kırıkkale University Faculty of MedicineMental health literacy (MHL) is defined as information about recognizing, managing, and preventing mental disorders. An increase in MHL in society will allow the behavior of individuals with mental illness to improve, decrease stigma, and allow these individuals to benefit from health services at an optimal level. In line with this information, we intended to investigate the mental health literacy levels of medical faculty students. The study included 179 students aged 18-25 years. The socio-demographic data form, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) were applied. Mean age of the participants was 23.09±3.09, and 66.4% (n=119) were women. The rate of participants who had applied to a psychiatric clinic in the past was 37.4% (n=67). When those with psychiatric admissions were compared with those without psychiatric admission in terms of MHL and DASS-21, the mean scores of recognizing mental disorders (p=0.021), attitude towards individuals (0.004), MHL total scale (0.006), anxiety (p=0.016) and stress (p=0.045) were significantly higher in those with psychiatric admissions. Of the participants, 15.0% (n=27) had a his-tory of psychiatric disease. Recognition of mental disorders (p=0.023), attitude towards individuals (0.01), MHL total scale (0.028), depression (p=0.008), anxiety (p=0.001) and stress (p=0.001) mean scores of those with a history of psychiatric illness were significantly higher. Our findings showed that those with psychiatric admissions and a history of psychiatric illness had higher scores for rec-ognizing mental disorders, attitudes toward individuals, and total scores. Increasing the number of individuals with MHL will be beneficial for recognizing mental disorders, seeking professional help, and receiving appropriate treatment. [Med-Science 2023; 12(2.000): 479-83]https://www.medicinescience.org/?mno=149871mental health literacyhealth literacyuniversity students
spellingShingle Deniz Deniz Ozturan
Hanife Kocakaya
Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
Medicine Science
mental health literacy
health literacy
university students
title Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
title_full Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
title_fullStr Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
title_short Evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
title_sort evaluation of mental health literacy in university students
topic mental health literacy
health literacy
university students
url https://www.medicinescience.org/?mno=149871
work_keys_str_mv AT denizdenizozturan evaluationofmentalhealthliteracyinuniversitystudents
AT hanifekocakaya evaluationofmentalhealthliteracyinuniversitystudents