Mental health literacy among youth

The concept of mental health literacy (MHL) refers to "knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid in their recognition, management or prevention" (1). It includes awareness of mental conditions, recognition of symptoms, knowledge of seeking professional help, and employing tactics that will benefit the psychological state of an individual. MHL has become an important aspect of modern public health practice since adolescence and early adulthood are developmental periods associated with numerous emotional, social, and psychological alterations. Recent research indicates that half of all mental conditions start at the age of 14, and more than three quarters are detected by the mid-20s (2).

Even though more and more young people experience mental problems, numerous studies have revealed low levels of MHL in both adolescents and young adults. Most young people do not know enough information on mental disorders including their symptoms, causes, and treatment. Prejudices about mental illnesses often lead to stigmatization and discrimination and prevent patients from seeking professional medical assistance (3). Ineffective coping skills and lack of proper information can result in underestimation of symptoms, improper management of conditions, and many other undesirable consequences that can negatively affect one's performance and social life (4).

References:

1. Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, Christensen H, Rodgers B, Pollitt P. Mental health literacy: A survey of the public's ability to recognize mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Medical Journal of Australia. 1997;166(4):182–186.

2. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2005;62(6):593–602.

3. Gulliver A, Griffiths KM, Christensen H. Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2010;10:113.

4. Wei Y, McGrath PJ, Hayden J, Kutcher S. Mental health literacy measures evaluating knowledge, attitudes and help-seeking: A scoping review. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15:291.