Mental health literacy: a future competency towards sustainable mental health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64838/jmht.2025.282802Keywords:
mental health literacy, mental health policy, mental health promotion, mental health sustainabilityAbstract
Mental health has become a critical public health agenda both globally and in Thailand, amid escalating challenges and complex systemic issues. Mental health literacy (MHL), defined as the integration of knowledge, beliefs, personal attributes, and skills to recognize, manage, and prevent mental health problems, is widely recognized as a crucial proactive tool for fostering sustainable well-being in society.
This article aims to synthesize knowledge from research and policy documents to analyze the significance, current situation, and challenges of promoting MHL within the Thai context. It also proposes a conceptual framework and policy recommendations to support systematic development.
The review reveals that Thai society is facing a significant gap between the increasing demand for mental health services and the limited resources and service infrastructure, compounded by social stigma and misconceptions about mental health. Enhancing public MHL is therefore essential to overcoming these barriers, requiring the development of four core competencies: accessing information of mental health and services, acquiring understanding and awareness, appraising information critically, and applying knowledge for self-management and supporting others.
However, promoting MHL cannot be achieved by focusing solely on individuals. It requires systemic change and genuine collaboration across all sectors to create a sustainable mental well-being ecosystem.
Downloads
References
World Health Organization. Health promotion glossary of terms 2021. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021.
Patel V, Chisholm D, Parikh R, Charlson FJ, Degenhardt L, Dua T, et al. Addressing the burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders: key messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd edition. Lancet. 2016;387(10028):1672-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00390-6
Department of Mental Health, National Innovation Agency (NIA), Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), and FutureTales Lab by MQDC. The future of Thai social mental health 2033. Bangkok; 2023. (in Thai)
The Thai Institute of Mental Health Sustainability (TIMS). Annual report 2023-2024: moving towards mental health sustainability in Thailand. Bangkok: Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University; 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 7]. Available from: https://sgp1.digitaloceanspaces.com/psy-tims-chula/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TIMS-Report-2023-2024-Complete-3.pdf (in Thai)
Suraaroonsamrit B. The Cardiff Model for violence prevention in society. Journal of Mental Health of Thailand. 2025;33(2):163-9. (in Thai)
The Economist Intelligence Unit. Health literacy around the world: policy approaches to wellbeing through knowledge and empowerment. London: The Economist Group; 2021.
Corrigan PW. How stigma interferes with mental health care. Am Psychol. 2004;59(7):614-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.7.614
Thornicroft G. Stigma and discrimination limit access to mental health care. Epidemiol Psichiatr Soc. 2008;17(1):14-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1121189X00002621
Kickbusch I, Pelikan JM, Apfel F, Tsouros AD, editors. Health Literacy: The Solid Facts. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2013.
Sørensen K, Pelikan JM, Röthlin F, Ganahl K, Slonska Z, Doyle G, et al. Health literacy in Europe: comparative results of the European health literacy survey (HLS-EU). Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(6):1053-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckv043
Jorm AF, Korten AE, Jacomb PA, Christensen H, Rodgers B, Pollitt P. 'Mental health literacy': a survey of the public's ability to recognise mental disorders and beliefs about their treatment. Med J Aust. 1997;166(4):182-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1997.tb140071.x
Nutbeam D, Muscat DM. Health promotion glossary 2021. Health Promot Int. 2021;36(6):1578-98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa157
Sweileh WM. Global research activity on mental health literacy: a bibliometric analysis. Middle East Curr Psychiatry. 2021;28:43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-021-00125-5
Sørensen K, Levin-Zamir D, Duong TV, Okan O, Brasil VV, Nutbeam D. Building health literate systems: a framework for health literate systems. Health Promot Int. 2021;36(Suppl 1):i13-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daab153
International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). Mental health promotion knowledge competencies. Paris: IUHPE; 2022.
Nutbeam D. Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century. Health Promot Int. 2000;15(3):259-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/15.3.259
Sørensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-80
Deloitte UK. Mental health and employers: refreshing the case for investment. London: Deloitte LLP; 2020.
Wannasewok K, Suraaroonsamrit B, Jeungsiragulwit D, Udomratn P. Development of community mental health infrastructure in Thailand: from the past to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consort Psychiatr. 2022;3(3):98–109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/CP194
Kohrt BA, Asher L, Bhardwaj A, Fazel M, Jordans MJD, Mutamba BB, et al. The role of communities in mental health care in low- and middle-income countries: a meta-review of components and competencies. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15061279
Eysenbach G. How to fight an infodemic: the four pillars of infodemic management. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e21820. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/21820
Choudhury A, Chaudhry Z. Large language models and user trust: consequence of self-referential learning loop and the deskilling of health care professionals. J Med Internet Res. 2024;26:e56764. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/56764
World Health Organization. Health literacy [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024 [cited 2025 Sep 6]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-literacy
Dailynews Online. TikTok Awards Thailand 2022 [Internet]. Bangkok: Dailynews; 2022 Sep 25 [cited 2025 Sep 7]. Available from: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/1483517/. (in Thai)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Mental Health of Thailand
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
- Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted. The consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, for advertising, or for resale.
- Unless otherwise states, the views and opinion expressed in Journal of Mental Health of Thailand are those of authors of the papers, and do not represent those of the editorial board or the Department of Mental Health.
