Luísa Campos|Pedro Dias|Ana Duarte|Elisa Veiga|Cláudia Camila Dias|Filipa Palha
Is It Possible to “Find Space for Mental Health” in Young People? Effectiveness of a School-Based Mental Health Literacy Promotion Program
Universidade Católica Portuguesa|Universidade Católica Portuguesa|Universidade Católica Portuguesa|Universidade Católica Portuguesa|Universidade do Porto|Centre for Health Technology and Services Research|Universidade Católica Portuguesa
lack knowledge regarding stigma associated mental disorders identified major obstacles promotion mental health early intervention present study aimed evaluate effectiveness schoolbased intervention program focused promotion mental health literacy mhl young people ldquofinding space mental healthrdquo sample 543 students 22 classes aged 12 14 years old participated study class students randomly assigned control group cg n 284 11 classes experimental group eg n 259 11 classes mhl assessed using mental health literacy questionnaire mhlq comprised three dimensionsmdashknowledgestereotypes first aid skills help seeking selfhelp strategies scores dimensions also combined give overall total score participants eg attended mhl promotion program two sessions 90 min delivered oneweek intervals sessions followed interactive methodology using group dynamics music videos adapted target group participants responded mhlq three points time preintervention assessment one week prior intervention postintervention assessment one week intervention followup assessment six months intervention intervention effectiveness differential impact sociodemographic variables effectiveness program studied using generalized estimation equation gee results revealed participants eg demonstrated average significantly higher improvement mhl preintervention followup compared participants cg different sociodemographic variables affected effectiveness program distinct dimensions mhlq overall ldquofinding space mental healthrdquo showed efficacy shortterm promotion program improving mhl schools