Canadian undergraduate students’ mental health literacy and its influence on psychological distress and help-seeking behaviour

Abstract

Psychological distress (PD) among Canadian undergraduate students continues to be a prevalent issue. Developing an enhanced understanding of the relationship between mental health literacy (MHL), PD and help-seeking behavior (HSB) can provide researchers, educators, and clinicians with additional insight as to what knowledge should be taught and reiterated to undergraduate students that will support their mental health. While many studies across the globe have consistently reported significant positive relationships between MHL and HSB, there remains mixed findings regarding the relationship between MHL and PD. The purpose of this study was to explore Canadian undergraduate students’ degree of MHL, and the influence it has on their levels of PD and HSB. While previous Canadian studies have explored students’ MHL, this is the first Canadian study that has examined the relationships between MHL, PD and HSB. A total of 335 participants completed an online survey. More than half of the students reportedly experienced heightened levels anxiety, depression, and stress. The results suggested that Canadian undergraduate students demonstrate adequate levels of MHL and that some attributes of MHL have significant relationships with PD and HSB. Further research is warranted to strengthen our understanding of the influence of MHL on PD and HSB.