Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 33243

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carlos Sequeira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), CINTESIS of University of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: mental health; active ageing; gerontology; information systems; positive psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Francisco Sampaio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

CINTESIS@RISE, Nursing School of Porto (ESEP), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, s/n, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Interests: psychiatric nursing; mental health; psychotherapy; anxiety; psychometrics; taxonomies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Patrícia Daniela Barata Gonçalves

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Portugal, Rua de Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: psychiatric nursing; mental health; nursing process; decision making; nursing informatics; delusion; hallucination; taxonomies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Self care means taking the time to do things that help one to live well and improve both physical and mental health. When it comes to mental health, self care can help manage stress, lower the risk of illness, and increase energy. Even small acts of self care in daily life can have a big impact. On the other hand, mental health literacy can be defined as the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management, or prevention. Mental health literacy consists of several components, including: (a) the ability to recognise specific disorders or different types of psychological distress, (b) knowledge and beliefs about risk factors and causes, (c) knowledge and beliefs about self-help interventions, (d) knowledge and beliefs about professional help available, (e) attitudes which facilitate recognition and appropriate help-seeking, and (f) knowledge of how to seek mental-health information.

Considering the relevance of carrying out research in those domains (mental health literacy and mental-health self-care), papers addressing these topics are welcome for this Special Issue, especially those combining a high academic standard coupled with a practical focus on providing evidence-based assessment and intervention.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Sequeira
Prof. Dr. Francisco Miguel Correia Sampaio
Dr. Patrícia Daniela Barata Gonçalves
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

literacy
mental health literacy
self-care
mental health
psychiatric nursing
psychiatry
therapeutics

Published Papers (11 papers)

Download All Papers

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Mental Health Literacy: It Is Now Time to Put Knowledge into Practice

by Francisco Sampaio, Patrícia Gonçalves and Carlos Sequeira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7030; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127030 - 8 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4089

Abstract

The term ‘mental health literacy’ was first introduced in 1997, and it was defined as ‘knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention’ [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Looking beyond Mental Health Stigma”: An Online Focus Group Study among Senior Undergraduate Nursing Students

by Olga Valentim, Lídia Moutinho, Carlos Laranjeira, Ana Querido, Catarina Tomás, João Longo, Daniel Carvalho, João Gomes, Tânia Morgado and Tânia Correia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4601; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054601 - 5 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2480

Abstract

Evidence highlights the need for professionals to be aware of their stigmatizing attitudes and discriminatory practices in order to minimize the negative impact on the people they take care of. However, nursing students’ perceptions of these issues have been poorly studied. This study explores the perspective of senior undergraduate nursing students on mental health and the stigma around it, by considering a simulated case vignette of a person with a mental health problem. A descriptive qualitative approach was chosen and involved three online focus group discussions. The findings show various manifestations of stigma, both at an individual and collective level, which indicates that it is an obstacle to the wellbeing of people with mental illness. Individual manifestations of stigma concern its effect on the person with mental illness, while at the collective level they concern the family or society in general. Stigma is a multifactorial, multidimensional, and complex concept, in terms of identifying and fighting it. Thus, the strategies identified involve multiple approaches at the individual level, aimed at the patient and family, namely through education/training, communication, and relationship strategies. At the collective level, to intervene with the general population and specific groups, such as groups of young people, strategies suggested include education/training, use of the media, and contact with people with mental disorders as ways to fight stigma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

14 pages, 416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health Literacy and Stigma in a Municipality in the North of Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Raquel Simões de Almeida, Maria João Trigueiro, Paula Portugal, Sara de Sousa, Vítor Simões-Silva, Filipa Campos, Maria Silva and António Marques

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3318; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043318 - 14 Feb 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3383

Abstract

Portugal has Europe’s second-highest prevalence of psychiatric illnesses, and this is the reason why mental health literacy (MHL) and stigma should be addressed. This study aimed to investigate the mental health literacy and stigma levels among different groups of people from Póvoa de Varzim, a municipality in the north of Portugal. Students, retired people, and professionals (education, social, and healthcare fields) were recruited using a convenience sample from June to November 2022. Participants’ MHL levels were evaluated using the Mental Health Promoting Knowledge Scale (MHPK), Mental Health Literacy Measure (MHLM) and Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS). Stigma levels were evaluated using Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) and the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS). A total of 928 questionnaires were filed. The respondents included 65.70% of women, a mean age of 43.63 (±26.71) years and 9.87 (±4.39) years of school education. MHL increased with age, education level and was higher in women (p < 0.001). A higher level of MHL was seen in health professionals (p < 0.001). Findings revealed that older people stigmatized people with mental illness more (p < 0.001), and the female gender stigmatize less (p < 0.001). In addition, results showed that stigma decreased with higher mental health literacy (r between 0.11 and 0.38; p < 0.001). To conclude, specific campaigns that promote mental health literacy should be tailored to specific profiles within this population to address those that have more stigma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

13 pages, 686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of the Online “Dialogue Circles” Nursing Intervention to Increase Positive Mental Health and Reduce the Burden of Caregivers of Patients with Complex Chronic Conditions. Randomized Clinical Trial

by Jose Manuel Tinoco-Camarena, Montserrat Puig-Llobet, María Teresa Lluch-Canut, Juan Roldan-Merino, Mari Carmen Moreno-Arroyo, Antonio Moreno-Poyato, Judith Balaguer-Sancho, Zaida Agüera, Maria Aurelia Sánchez-Ortega and Miguel Ángel Hidalgo-Blanco

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010644 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

The personal demands involved in caring for a chronically ill person can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion in caregivers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online nursing intervention called “dialogue circles” designed to reduce caregiver overload and enhance positive mental health (PMH) in family caregivers. We used a pre-post design. The sample consisted of 86 family caregivers of patients with complex chronic conditions, randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 43) or the control group (n = 43). All participants completed the Zarit scale and the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire 15 days before starting the intervention and 30 days after its completion. Comparison of the post-test changes revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups in PMH and overload, with the intervention group showing greater positive changes in all dimensions of PMH after the intervention and lower scores on overload. In conclusion, the results suggest that incorporating dialogue circles as an online nursing intervention in the caregivers of patients with complex chronic conditions can enhance PMH and decrease caregiver overload, especially in settings where face-to-face encounters are not possible. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nursing Intervention to Improve Positive Mental Health and Self-Care Skills in People with Chronic Physical Health Conditions

by Maria Aurelia Sánchez-Ortega, Maria Teresa Lluch-Canut, Juan Roldán-Merino, Zaida Agüera, Miguel Angel Hidalgo-Blanco, Antonio R. Moreno-Poyato, Jose Tinoco-Camarena, Carmen Moreno-Arroyo and Montserrat Puig-Llobet

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010528 - 28 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

The exponential increase in the number of people suffering chronic illness has become a problem for which healthcare services need a response. The inclusion of self-care and positive mental health as part of a strategy to promote health offers an opportunity for a reorganization oriented towards community spaces and group interventions. This study undertook the assessment of an intervention designed to optimize the agency of and capacity for self-care and positive mental health by utilizing activities drawn from the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC), specifically from Field 3 (Behavioral), and organized as a program called PIPsE. A quasi-experimental design was prepared with an intervention group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 22), in a primary care center in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The instruments used were two ad hoc questionnaires to collect sociodemographic and satisfaction information and two scales: the Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale (ASA) and the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ). The results obtained showed a significant increase in self-care capacity and both overall positive mental health and mental health by factors in the intervention group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

11 pages, 378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective and Vulnerability Factors of Municipal Workers’ Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Francisco Sampaio, Joana Coelho, Patrícia Gonçalves and Carlos Sequeira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14256; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114256 - 31 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1757

Abstract

Work is fundamental to an individual’s mental health; however, an unfavourable work environment can lead to mental health problems. Despite existing studies addressing workers’ mental health, it is essential to understand the reality of specific contexts to design effective tailored interventions. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of potential protective and vulnerability factors on municipal workers’ depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels, and burnout. A cross-sectional study was conducted with data collection performed between July and December 2021 using online self-report measures. The sample comprised 115 municipal workers. The findings revealed that psychological vulnerability is a significant vulnerability factor for the presence of mental health symptoms. In addition, job satisfaction was found to be a significant protective factor for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout of the municipal workers. The results of this study enhance the understanding of factors that influence worker mental health, which may facilitate the proper planning of specific interventions to promote mental health in the workplace. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

11 pages, 729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Further Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Scale: Evidence from Chinese Elite Athletes

by Xiang Wang, Wei Liang, Jingdong Liu, Chun-Qing Zhang, Yanping Duan, Gangyan Si, Danran Bu and Daliang Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12620; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912620 - 2 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2027

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Scale (MMHLS) among Chinese elite athletes. Particularly, the factorial validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, concurrent validity, internal-consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability of the MMHLS were examined. A total of 320 participants were recruited from the Guangdong provincial sports training center in China. Data collection was conducted between 30 June and 31 July 2020 using electronic questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), Rasch analysis, correlation analysis and independent-sample t-tests were conducted using Mplus 8.3 and ConQuest 2.0. The CFA results supported the factorial validity of the three-dimensional MMHLS, consisting of knowledge-oriented MHL, beliefs-oriented MHL, and resource-oriented MHL. Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability coefficients supported the internal-consistency reliability of the MMHLS. Moreover, the convergent and discriminant validities were supported for the subdimension of MHL-Knowledge, MHL-Beliefs, and MHL-Resources. Concurrent validity was demonstrated through correlations between MMHLS, help-seeking attitudes, and stigma. Rasch analysis provided further evidence of the psychometric quality of the instrument in terms of its dimensionality, item fit statistics, and rating scale effectiveness. Finally, test–retest reliability was 0.66 after one month. In conclusion, the 24-item three-dimensional MMHLS was verified to be a reliable and valid measurement of mental health literacy in Chinese elite athletes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health Literacy and Positive Mental Health in Adolescents: A Correlational Study

by Joana Nobre, António Calha, Henrique Luis, Ana Paula Oliveira, Francisco Monteiro, Carme Ferré-Grau and Carlos Sequeira

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 8165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138165 - 3 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4699

Abstract

This study aimed to assess adolescents′ Mental Health Literacy (MHL) level, Positive Mental Health (PMH) level, the association between sociodemographic variables and the MHL and PMH levels, and the relationship between adolescent′s MHL and PMH levels. A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 260 adolescents studying in the 5th to 12th years of school. The Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire, the Mental Health-Promoting Knowledge, and the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire were used for data collection. Most of the adolescents were female (55.8%) with a mean age of 14.07 years. The participants showed good levels of MHL (MHKQ). The participants showed good levels of MHL (MHKQ

\bar{𝘹}

= 60.03; MHPK-10

\bar{𝘹}

= 4.49) and high levels of PMH (

\bar{𝘹}

= 128.25). The adolescents with higher levels of MHL were the oldest, in a higher year of school, female, those whose mothers are employed, those who have healthy eating habits, and those who have a better body image self-perception. Adolescents in a lower year of school, with adequate sleep habits, who spend fewer hours a day in front of a screen or online, and who have a better self-perception of mental and physical health and body image were the ones with higher PMH levels. These findings suggest the need to implement experimental or quasi-experimental studies to ascertain the effectiveness of interventions that promote adolescents′ positive mental health literacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

11 pages, 637 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Health Literacy to Self-Care: Contributions of the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing

by Marina do Rosário Jesus Dias, Ana da Conceição Alves Faria, Maria Salomé Martins Ferreira, Fabiana Faleiros, André Novo, Maria Narcisa Gonçalves, Carla Gomes da Rocha, Paulo João Figueiredo Cabral Teles, Marlene Patrícia Ribeiro, João Miguel Almeida Ventura da Silva and Olga Maria Pimenta Lopes Ribeiro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137767 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1956

Abstract

(1) Background: Initiatives aimed at assessing and intervening in health literacy have the potential to promote adherence to self-care behaviours, which is the main focus of intervention by rehabilitation nurses. Thus, the objectives were to analyse the level of health literacy of working-age citizens and identify priority areas for intervention by rehabilitation nurses. (2) Methods: Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study, conducted in a multinational company, with the participation of 161 workers. The data were collected between 14 April and 7 May 2021, using a self-completion questionnaire composed of sociodemographic and clinical characterization and the European Health Literacy Survey, following a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee and the company’s management. (3) Results: Overall, low to moderate literacy scores were predominant. Age and education were significantly associated with literacy scores. Workers with higher levels of health literacy had no diagnosed illnesses, took less medication, reported less sadness, fewer memory changes and less muscle and joint pain. (4) Conclusions: The fact that higher levels of health literacy trigger self-care behaviours and, consequently, fewer health problems reinforces the need for rehabilitation nurses to invest in this area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

16 pages, 1232 KiB

Open AccessReview

Therapeutic Adherence of People with Mental Disorders: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis

by Carlos Laranjeira, Daniel Carvalho, Olga Valentim, Lídia Moutinho, Tânia Morgado, Catarina Tomás, João Gomes and Ana Querido

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053869 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3000

Abstract

Patient therapeutic adherence lies at the core of mental health care. Health Care professionals and organizations play a major role in promoting adherence among people with mental disorders. However, defining therapeutic adherence remains complex. We used Rodgers’ evolutionary concept analysis to explore the concept of therapeutic adherence in the context of mental health. We conducted a systematic literature search on Medline/PubMed and CINAHL for works published between January 2012 and December 2022. The concept analysis showed that major attributes of therapeutic adherence include patient, microsystem and meso/exosystem-level factors. Antecedents are those related to patients, such as their background, beliefs and attitudes, and acceptance of mental illness–and those related to patient-HCP therapeutic engagement. Lastly, three different consequences of the concept emerged: an improvement in clinical and social outcomes, commitment to treatment, and the quality of healthcare delivery. We discuss an operational definition that emerged from the concept analysis approach. However, considering the concept has undergone evolutionary changes, further research related to patient adherence experiences in an ecological stance is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 563 KiB

Open AccessReview

Positive Mental Health and Mental Health Literacy of Informal Caregivers: A Scoping Review

by Carmen Andrade, Márcio Tavares, Hélia Soares, Fábio Coelho and Catarina Tomás

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15276; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215276 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3003

Abstract

Positive mental health and mental health literacy are two main concepts to ensure an individual and social state of mental health and well-being. A scoping review of the scientific literature published in the field of health sciences was conducted to identify the relationship between mental health literacy and the positive mental health of family caregivers. A research expression was used to search for articles in health databases, respecting the main topics of the Participants/Concept/Context (PCC) framework. A total of eight articles were included from the 2830 initially identified using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) process. It was noticeable that none of the studies related positive mental health and mental health literacy of caregivers. Nevertheless, it was possible to identify predictors of mental health and self-efficacy, such as burden and a lack of information about and support in the process of care. Caregivers’ quality of life, self-esteem and confidence are also important positive mental health predictors that are closely related to health literacy. The knowledge of these factors can contribute to the reduction in negative determinants of mental health of caregivers and the resolution of strategies to meet caregivers’ needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Literacy, Self-Care and Mental Health: Assessment and Intervention

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (11 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI