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Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students

Paul Gorczynski, Wendy Sims-schouten, Denise Hill Orcid Logo, Janet Clare Wilson

The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Volume: 12, Issue: 2, Pages: 111 - 120

Swansea University Author: Denise Hill Orcid Logo

Abstract

PurposeMany university students in the UK experience mental health problems and little is known about their overall mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain levels of mental health literacy in UK university students and to examine whether mental h...

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Published in: The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
ISSN: 1755-6228
Published: 2017
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa35681
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spelling 2018-11-05T11:42:19.0956160 v2 35681 2017-09-27 Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students 9bca603dad273604f16acfb1178b1d83 0000-0001-8580-4048 Denise Hill Denise Hill true false 2017-09-27 STSC PurposeMany university students in the UK experience mental health problems and little is known about their overall mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain levels of mental health literacy in UK university students and to examine whether mental health literacy is associated with better mental health outcomes and intentions to seek professional care.Design/methodology/approachA total of 380 university students at a university in the south of England completed online surveys measuring multiple dimensions of mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being.FindingsMental health literacy in the students sampled was lower than seen in previous research. Women exhibited higher levels of mental health literacy than men and postgraduate students scored higher than undergraduate students. Participants with previous mental health problems had higher levels of mental health literacy than those with no history of mental health problems. Individuals were most likely to want to seek support from a partner or family member and most participants indicated they would be able to access mental health information online. Mental health literacy was significantly positively correlated with help-seeking behaviour, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being.Practical implicationsStrategies, such as anonymous online resources, should be designed to help UK university students become more knowledgeable about mental health and comfortable with seeking appropriate support.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine multiple dimensions of mental health literacy in UK university students and compare it to help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being. Journal Article The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice 12 2 111 120 1755-6228 Attitudes, University students, Mental health literacy, Help-seeking behaviour 31 12 2017 2017-12-31 10.1108/JMHTEP-05-2016-0027 https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/examining-mental-health-literacy-help-seeking-behaviours-and-mental-health-outcomes-in-uk-university-students(ae34b480-f86d-468f-bf09-5f202600308a).html COLLEGE NANME Sport and Exercise Sciences COLLEGE CODE STSC Swansea University 2018-11-05T11:42:19.0956160 2017-09-27T08:39:49.9666491 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences Paul Gorczynski 1 Wendy Sims-schouten 2 Denise Hill 0000-0001-8580-4048 3 Janet Clare Wilson 4 0035681-02102017144147.pdf gorczynski2017.pdf 2017-10-02T14:41:47.0830000 Output 322530 application/pdf Accepted Manuscript true 2017-10-02T00:00:00.0000000 true eng
title Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
spellingShingle Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
Denise Hill
title_short Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
title_full Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
title_fullStr Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
title_full_unstemmed Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
title_sort Examining mental health literacy, help seeking behaviours, and mental health outcomes in UK university students
author_id_str_mv 9bca603dad273604f16acfb1178b1d83
author_id_fullname_str_mv 9bca603dad273604f16acfb1178b1d83_***_Denise Hill
author Denise Hill
author2 Paul Gorczynski
Wendy Sims-schouten
Denise Hill
Janet Clare Wilson
format Journal article
container_title The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice
container_volume 12
container_issue 2
container_start_page 111
publishDate 2017
institution Swansea University
issn 1755-6228
doi_str_mv 10.1108/JMHTEP-05-2016-0027
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Sport and Exercise Sciences
url https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/examining-mental-health-literacy-help-seeking-behaviours-and-mental-health-outcomes-in-uk-university-students(ae34b480-f86d-468f-bf09-5f202600308a).html
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description PurposeMany university students in the UK experience mental health problems and little is known about their overall mental health literacy and help-seeking behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain levels of mental health literacy in UK university students and to examine whether mental health literacy is associated with better mental health outcomes and intentions to seek professional care.Design/methodology/approachA total of 380 university students at a university in the south of England completed online surveys measuring multiple dimensions of mental health literacy, help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being.FindingsMental health literacy in the students sampled was lower than seen in previous research. Women exhibited higher levels of mental health literacy than men and postgraduate students scored higher than undergraduate students. Participants with previous mental health problems had higher levels of mental health literacy than those with no history of mental health problems. Individuals were most likely to want to seek support from a partner or family member and most participants indicated they would be able to access mental health information online. Mental health literacy was significantly positively correlated with help-seeking behaviour, but not significantly correlated with distress or well-being.Practical implicationsStrategies, such as anonymous online resources, should be designed to help UK university students become more knowledgeable about mental health and comfortable with seeking appropriate support.Originality/valueThis study is the first to examine multiple dimensions of mental health literacy in UK university students and compare it to help-seeking behaviour, distress, and well-being.
published_date 2017-12-31T03:44:27Z
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