• Abstract

    Mental health literacy among youth is crucial for the early detection and intervention in mental health disorders. Despite growing awareness, many young individuals lack the knowledge to recognize and respond to mental health concerns effectively. Educational interventions, such as targeted practice sessions, offer promise in addressing this gap. This study investigates the effectiveness of targeted practice sessions in enhancing students' ability to identify mental disorders. Situational questions were employed to assess participants' comprehension of various psychological disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress, stress, and social phobia. A total of 80 high school students from Hoang Hoa 2 High School, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, participated, with 40 assigned to the control group and 40 to the experimental group. The Paired-Samples T-test was used for data analysis, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results revealed significant improvements in recognition abilities among students in the experimental group, highlighting the efficacy of targeted interventions in promoting mental health literacy. The study underscores the importance of addressing mental health literacy within educational settings and contributes valuable insights into evidence-based strategies for enhancing students' understanding of psychological disorders. Targeted practice sessions represent a promising approach to promoting mental health awareness and support among youth, with implications for improving mental health outcomes and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness.

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Le, S. Q., Bui, D. T. T., Hoang, H. T., Le, D. T., & Lu, H. T. T. (2023). Experimental mental health understanding program for high school students. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 6(12), 2024253. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2024253
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