Measuring mental health literacy – a review of scale-based measures

Abstract

Background: Mental Health Literacy (MHL) has become an important concept in the literature; however, quantitative research on MHL methodology has been limited.Aims: This review identified peer-reviewed papers investigating MHL, assessed psychometric attributes of scale-based measures of MHL, and the extent that studies assessed the attributes that define MHL.Method: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to identify measures which generate a total MHL or subscale score was also conducted. A total of 13 studies were identified and their psychometric attributes determined using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). The extent to which each measure assessed the attributes of MHL was also determined.Results: Results showed that included studies failed to report detailed information about the sample, measure development and testing to demonstrate the psychometric properties of their tool.Conclusion: There are substantial limitations in current ability to measure MHL and there is significant scope for the development and evaluation of psychometrically robust measures that assess the relevant attributes of MHL. Further research could also focus on the adequacy of the current definition of MHL.