Udena Ruwindu Attygalle|Hemamali Perera|Bernard Deepal Wanniarachchi Jayamanne
Mental health literacy in adolescents: ability to recognise problems, helpful interventions and outcomes
Teaching Hospital Kandy|University of Colombo
although mental health literacy widely studied adults still relatively studies adolescent populations sri lanka adolescents account one fifth population current evidence shows mental health problems diagnosed adulthood begin adolescence also growing evidence trajectories disorders altered early recognition intervention although helpseeking mental health problems known poor adolescents mental health literacy improves helpseeking also known adolescents may act agents change regarding mental health wider communities thus mental health literacy adolescents important aspect community mental health initiatives objective study describe aspects mental health literacy terms ability recognise problems helpful interventions helpful referral options outcomes target adolescent population sri lanka association socio economic variables recognition mental health problems also examinedthis descriptive cross sectional study used pretested questionnaire 1002 adolescents aged 13 16 mental health literacy assessed using 4 case vignettes vignettes represented depression suicidal ideation social phobia psychosis diabetes last comparisonthe response rates recognition mental health problem 822 n 824 vignette depicting depression 687 n 689 psychosis vignette 623 n 623 social phobia vignette talking person responded helpful 499 n 500 depression vignette followed 498 n 499 social phobia 395 n 396 psychosis 195 n 195 diabetes vignette response rate exercise helpful intervention 25 n 251 diabetes vignette followed 21 n 210 social phobia 187 n 187 psychosis vignette 184 n 184 depression vignette 702 n 704 responded would benefit seeing doctor diabetes vignette response rates psychosis 485 n 486 depression social phobia 482 n 483 responses persons vignettes becoming better treatment 814 n 816 diabetes 795 n 797 depression 756 n 758 psychosis 634 n 636 social phobia vignette statistically significant association found income level family appropriate recognition mental health problems 3 mental health related vignettesthe ability recognise mental health problems helpful interventions outcomes population comparable adolescent populations countries exceptions main differences relation identification interventions response psychosis social phobia vignettes