title: Effects of school-based mental health literacy education for secondary school students to be delivered by school teachers: A preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Improving knowledge and beliefs about mental health (or mental health literacy [MHL]) may promote appropriate help-seeking by adolescents who are suffering from mental health problems. We developed a concise, school-staff-led MHL program and examined its effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants comprised 118 grade-9 students (61 boys and 57 girls). The program consisted of two 50-min sessions, and was given by a schoolteacher. The effects of the program were evaluated before, immediately after and 3 months after the program, using a self-report questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of mental health/illnesses and desirable behavior for help-seeking were significantly improved immediately after (post-test, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and 3 months after the program (3-month follow up, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively), compared with the test before the delivery of the program (pre-test, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Proportions of the correct diagnoses of vignette cases of major depression and schizophrenia were significantly (P < 0.001) elevated from 38.3% and 19.1% (pre-test) to 94.7% and 93.6% (post-test), and 91.5% and 86.2% (3-month follow up). Intentions to seek help and to provide peers with help with mental health problems were also significantly (P < 0.001) elevated at post-test and at 3 months compared with the pre-test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A concise, school-staff-led program may have a significant effect on the improvement of MHL in secondary school students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Health Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ojio
authors.affiliation: Secondary School attached to the Faculty of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yonehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Health Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taneichi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Syudo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuntaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Health Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiharu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Togo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Health Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D000067010:Literacy; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescent; health education; mental health; program evaluation; schools