Abstract
This study was aimed at determining the efficacy of psychoeducation in improving attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking among young adults in Kenya. Four out of twenty teacher training colleges were sampled. Two colleges made up the control group while the other two made up the experimental group. Both groups were assessed at baseline, before the experimental group was presented with an intervention in form of two, two-hour each psychoeducation modules using power point while sited in their normal classrooms. The second assessment was done a day after the psychoeducation, while the control group received no intervention but were assessed again two days after the baseline assessment. The control group had no improvement in the summative scores of attitudes towards help seeking, while the experimental group increased positively in their attitudes towards seeking help for a mental illness, which is in line with other studies. Globally. We conclude that with education on opinions about mental illness and expectations about counseling, the youth could improve their attitudes towards seeking help for a mental illness problem. This study recommends that young adults and college students should be given education in order to improve their attitudes to seeking help for a mental illness. Collage students should have this education in their curriculum to assist them identify mental illness and seek help for the same.
Highlights
Mental illness is the most disabling illness compared to other health problems, that bring lots of pain, and suffering to individuals, families and community, yet it’s the normally given the lost priority by governments in terms of policy and funding globally, [1]
There was no a significant difference in the summative scores of attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking at baseline; (M= 62.85, SD=6.44) and at the second assessment;
There was a significant difference in the summative scores of attitudes towards professional psychological help seeking at baseline among the experimental group; (M= 62.04, SD=6.30) and at the second assessment (M=84.5, SD=6.59); t(2,904) = 93.95, p = 0.000)
Summary
Mental illness is the most disabling illness compared to other health problems, that bring lots of pain, and suffering to individuals, families and community, yet it’s the normally given the lost priority by governments in terms of policy and funding globally, [1]. Psychological Help Seeking for a Mental Illness Among Teacher Trainees in Kenya psychiatric disorders in subject areas that serve the goals of treatment and rehabilitation....” [3]. This program has been used among college students [4] and other communities [5], [6], [7] to positively change attitudes towards mental illness and help seeking globally. A number of barriers that include stigma, lack of knowledge on how mental illnesses are treated among other barriers bar individuals from seeking for help, [9]
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