Effectiveness of a mental health literacy program for adolescents in a Peruvian public educational institution
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35622/Keywords:
adolescent, literacy, health education, prevention, mental healthAbstract
Mental health literacy in school settings is a key strategy that must be strengthened to improve understanding of psychological disorders and help-seeking behaviors in adolescence. Within this framework, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a mental health literacy program for students at a Peruvian public school. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach with a single-group, pre-experimental design (O1-X-O2). The sample consisted of 17 students aged 12 to 13, selected using non-probability convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria included voluntary participation, informed consent, and adequate understanding of the instrument. This program, called “Minds in Balance,” was implemented in seven weekly psychoeducational sessions designed to strengthen knowledge of mental disorders, risk factors and causes, self-treatment strategies, identification of professional help services, and attitudes toward seeking support. The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) was used for measurement. After verifying the absence of normality in the post-test data, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for inferential analysis. The results showed statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test in the overall literacy score (Z=-3,60; p < 0.001). Significant improvements were also recorded in five of the six dimensions assessed: Disorder recognition (Z=-3,417; p=0,001), risk factors and causes (Z=-3,446; p=0,001), self-treatment (Z=-3,256; p=0,001), available professional help (Z=-2,831; p=0,005), and attitudes toward seeking help (Z=-3,521; p=0,001). However, in the dimension of trust and access to information, statistically significant changes were observed (Z=-1,880; p= 0,060). These findings support the effectiveness of the program as a psychoeducational intervention in the school setting.
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