Yasutaka Ojio with the assistance of Ms. Yuko Kitagawa and Ms. Naomi Inagaki
July, 2015
Abstract
Objective: Adolescence is the period when the onset of mental illnesses becomes frequent. Providing adolescents with education about mental illnesses and how they are treated may help adolescents recognize any mental difficulties they may be suffering and promote appropriate help. In Japan, however, few mental health education programs have been developed for adolescents and limited studies have investigated their effects. In the present study, we developed a concise, school-staff led mental health literacy (MHL) education program for secondary school students and examined its effect.
Method: The program was given by a full-time school teacher. The objective of the program was to provide students with an opportunity to learn the symptoms of mental illnesses, to understand common mental disorders in adolescents and to encourage them to seek appropriate help if they are suffering from mental difficulties. The evaluations were conducted before and immediately after the program, using a self-report questionnaire. The participants comprised 118 grade-9 and 120 grade-11 Japanese students.
Results: A significant effect was observed on knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatment. Attitudes to seeking help and assisting peers also improved after the program.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that concise, school teacher led program might help improve mental health literacy in adolescents.
