Confidence and motivation to help those with a mental health problem: experiences from a study of nursing students completing mental health first aid (MHFA) training

Sharyn Burns,Gemma Crawford

doi:10.1186/s12909-020-1983-2

Abstract

BackgroundThose studying nursing are at greater risk for developing mental health problems than other tertiary students. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training may assist students to support peers and build mental health literacy. Understanding motivation to participate in training can identify factors influencing uptake and completion. This paper explores motivators for university nursing students to participate in MHFA training and uses previous experience and confidence in assisting someone with a mental health problem to triangulate data.MethodA randomised controlled trial was employed to measure the impact of the course for nursing students at a large Western Australian university. An online survey was administered prior to MHFA training with undergraduate nursing students (n = 140). Thematic analysis of open-ended questions explores motivators to participate and help provided to an individual. Baseline frequencies describe demographics, confidence in helping and exposure to someone with a mental health problem. A Chi Square test compared confidence in helping and exposure to someone with a mental health problem.ResultsMore than half of participants reported contact with individuals experiencing mental health problems (55%; n = 77); approximately a third (35.8%) reported limited confidence to assist. Those in previous contact with someone with a mental health problem (71.5%; n = 55) were significantly more likely to feel confident in helping (p = 0.044). Mental health literacy, helping others, career and experiences were described as training motivators.ConclusionExploiting motivators, both intrinsic and extrinsic may increase MHFA training uptake and completion. Tertiary institutions would benefit from policy to embed MHFA training into nursing degrees. The training may have utility for university degrees more broadly.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry; ACTRN12614000861651. Registered 11 August 2014 (retrospectively registered).

Highlights

Those studying nursing are at greater risk for developing mental health problems than other tertiary students
Tertiary institutions would benefit from policy to embed Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training into nursing degrees
Survey data collected at baseline was used to explore pre-service nursing student motivators for completing MHFA training and to investigate key demographics, previous mental health training, experience in helping someone with a mental health problem and perceived confidence to help prior to completing the training

Summary

Introduction

Those studying nursing are at greater risk for developing mental health problems than other tertiary students. This paper explores motivators for university nursing students to participate in MHFA training and uses previous experience and confidence in assisting someone with a mental health problem to triangulate data. Improving community mental health literacy may encourage professional help seeking, reduce stigma, and increase support networks [7,8,9,10,11]. Mental health problems among university students can lead to negative impacts on academic success including cessation of studies, high levels of absenteeism and failure, and reduced productivity [12, 22,23,24,25]. Attending university may increase levels of distress for many young people, appropriate support is required to throughout studies and in the transition to the workforce [26,27,28]

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Discussion

Conclusion