Improving Mental Health Literacy in Post-Secondary Students: Field Testing the Feasibility and Potential Outcomes of a Peer-Led Approach
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
31 August 2018
Abstract
Transitions (2nd edition) is an evidence-based life-skills resource designed to help post-secondary students transition from high school to college or university. This study was an on-campus evaluation of peer-led seminars of the mental health content from Transitions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the mental health literacy of three groups of students: master trainers, student trainers, and seminar participants. Post-seminar, there were significant improvements in mental health knowledge and help-seeking, two key components of participants’ mental health literacy. This peer-led approach is a feasible option with the potential to improve student mental health literacy within a short time frame.
Résumé
Transitions (2e édition) est une ressource de développement des compétences pratiques fondée sur des données probantes qui vise à aider les étudiants de niveau postsecondaire à faire la transition de l’école secondaire au collège ou à l’université. Cette étude constituait une évaluation sur le campus de séminaires dirigés par des pairs portant sur le contenu en santé mentale de Transitions. Une enquête transversale a été réalisée pour évaluer le niveau de sensibilisation de trois groupes d’étudiants (maîtres formateurs, étudiants-formateurs et participants aux séminaires) en matière de santé mentale. À l’issue des séminaires, des gains notables avaient été réalisés en ce qui concerne le niveau des connaissances et les demandes d’aide formulées, deux composantes clés de la sensibilisation des participants en matière de santé mentale. Cette approche éducative dirigée par des pairs constitue une option viable qui pourrait permettre d’améliorer rapidement la sensibilisation des étudiants en matière de santé mentale.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 37 • Number 1 • May 2018
Pages: 1 - 12
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Version of record online: 31 August 2018
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Chris Gilham, Erin L. Austen, Yifeng Wei, and Stanley Kutcher. 2018. Improving Mental Health Literacy in Post-Secondary Students: Field Testing the Feasibility and Potential Outcomes of a Peer-Led Approach. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
37(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2018-002
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