Educators as facilitators of mental health: An investigation of the mental health literacy of pre-service teachers
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Date
2013-10
Authors
Atkinson, Emily
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Saint Vincent University
Abstract
This investigation examined differences in levels of mental health literacy between first
and second year pre-service educators enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program at Mount
Saint Vincent University. Participants completed a basic demographic questionnaire, the Beliefs
about Mental Health Problems: Professional and Public Views’ questionnaire (Jorm, 1997) , and
questions regarding course work completed about mental health as part of their education degree.
Participants were asked to rate the helpfulness of various professionals and interventions in the
treatment of mental illness, the likelihood of potential causes of mental illness, and questions
about discrimination towards people with mental illness. It was predicted that overall, levels of
mental health literacy would be low, but comparable to the Canadian general population. It was
also predicted that second year students would show higher levels of mental health literacy. It
was expected that few participants would have completed coursework including mental health
topics, and that it was not required to complete their education degree. Overall levels of mental
health literacy were found to be somewhat higher than the Canadian general population levels.
Results indicated there was not a significant difference between levels of mental health literacy
in first and second year pre-service educators. As predicted, few participants had completed
coursework including mental health topics, which were not required to complete their degree.
The current findings expand upon the body of evidence in the domain of mental health literacy of
pre-service educators. It will be important for future research to confirm the present findings.
Description
Keywords
Mental health literacy , Pre-service teachers