Mental health literacy
Symptom recognition is the ability to detect beliefs, behaviors, and other physical manifestations of mental illness, without knowing explicitly which disorder they link to.
[citation needed] The recognition of difference between knowledge and attitudes is a crucial part of the mental health literacy framework.
Nonetheless, a large body of research literature exists on both sub-components, though not always explicitly tied to the mental health literacy.
[7] Recent research recognizes the varying attitudes across mental health professionals towards prognosis, long-term outcomes and likelihood of discrimination as more negative than those of the public.
[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] These surveys demonstrate that the recognition of mental disorders is lacking and reveal negative beliefs about some standard psychiatric treatments, particularly medications.
[8] Implications surrounding public attitudes towards mental disorders include negative Stereotypes, Prejudice, or Stigma.
[8] In Canada, a national survey found that young adult males tend to manage their problems individually and are less likely to seek formal help.
[16] Media influence plays a huge role in perpetuating negative mindsets towards mental illness, such as prescribing menacing qualities.
After neighbors found him screaming and smelling of urine and feces, they called the police, who escorted him to a psychiatric emergency room… His parents had a poor understanding of schizophrenia and were extremely distrustful of mental health providers.
[citation needed] Various scales have been created to measure the various components of mental health literacy, though not all are validated.
Without this foundation, the beneficial effects of mental health literacy are challenging for those who face difficulties with reading and writing.
[8] In order to encompass mental health literacy and diverse perspectives, further research in these areas are needed.
[32] An increased awareness surrounding underrepresented or more uncommon mental disorders is needed to widen public knowledge.
[citation needed] A concluding limitation is the lack of research on child mental health literacy, as the majority of studies focus on adults and adolescents.
If caregivers are not educated on recognizing and supporting mental disorders, this could create confusion and result in delayed treatment or wrongful prognosis for dependents.
A study conducted in 2022 found that increased parent self-efficacy regarding mental health is positively correlated with child well-being outcomes.
Social workers are engaging in research, education, policy development, advocating for individuals, organizing communities, and through direct practice.
Recognizing and continuing to work for future direction and development should be considered for mental health literacy.
