Mental Health Literacy and Associated Factors in Thai Military Medical S
Keywords:
mental health literacy, military medical student, factors influencing mental health literacyAbstract
Objective: To assess mental health literacy (MHL) level and its associated factors among Thai military medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 406 second- to sixth-year military medical students using the Thai Mental Health Literacy Scale (TMHLS). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results: The average MHL score among participants was moderate (119.05 ± 11.07). Awareness of mental health issues was relatively high, while knowledge about seeking professional help, self-care, information-seeking, and attitudes toward mental health services were moderate. Factors influencing MHL included higher-year students (p < 0.001) and female students (p < 0.001) score higher. while those who are not living with family or living alone scored lower (p = 0.004). Taking psychiatric courses (p = 0.001), reading mental health books (p < 0.001), and personal experiences with mental illness (p < 0.001) were linked to higher scores. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for structured mental health education to improve MHL among medical students. Efforts should focus on reducing stigma, enhancing positive attitudes, and promoting help-seeking behaviors.
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