Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Feb 2024)
Exploring Mental Health Literacy and Its Associated Factors: A National Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia, 2023
Abstract
Nasser F BinDhim,1 Nora A Althumiri,1,2 Yasser Ad-Dab’bagh,3 Mohammed MJ Alqahtani,4 Ahmad Kassab Alshayea,5 Sulaiman Mohammed Al-Luhaidan,6 Rashed Abdullah Al-Duraihem,7 Abdulhameed Abdullah Alhabeeb7 1Research and Studies Department, Informed Decision-Making Research and Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Research and Studies Department, Sharik Association for Research and Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Mental Health Department, Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam, Dammam, Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Psychology, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Psychology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Studies and Information, National Committee for Narcotics Control, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7National Centre for Mental Health Promotion, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiCorrespondence: Nora A Althumiri, Email [email protected]: The aim of this study is to examine, for the first time, the mental health literacy of the Saudi general population. Additionally, we aim to identify demographic factors associated with elevated mental health literacy scores.Methods: A cross-sectional study using a phone interview survey with quota sampling was conducted for equal distribution of sexes, age and administrative regions. Mental health literacy was assessed by the previously validated mental health literacy scale (MHLS). The MHLS ranges from 35 to 160, and a higher score indicates greater level of mental health literacy.Results: In this study, 4,547 (70.2%) agreed to complete the interview. The sample was equally distributed across Saudi Arabia’s 13 administrative regions with 50.1% female and mean age 35.9 (SD: ± 12.8). In terms of education, 55.1% have a bachelor’s degree or above. The nationally weighted score on the original MHLS was 110.75. the MHLS Saudi validation score was influenced by various variables including: marital status, healthcare-related job, sex, education level, and proximity to individuals with mental health issues.Conclusion: The study offers data for the first time on Saudi Arabian mental health literacy status. The high MHLS score reflects good societal awareness and understanding of mental health related concepts and issues in the Saudi population. The results of this study set the baseline for mental health literacy in Saudi Arabia. Future research may focus on utilizing the validated MHLS and the method used in this study to explore the effect of other social and individual factors on mental health literacy.Keywords: mental health literacy, literacy tool, Saudi Arabia, mental health, mental literacy
