The Effect of Health Education on Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Depression Among Eleventh-Grade Students at SMK Umi Kulsum Banjaran Bandung

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of health education on students’ knowledge and attitudes toward depression among adolescents. Theoretical Framework: The research is grounded in health behavior theories such as the Health Belief Model and mental health literacy frameworks, emphasizing the role of education in shaping awareness and behavioral responses to mental health issues. Method: A pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was used. The sample consisted of 85 eleventh-grade students at SMK Umi Kulsum Banjaran Bandung, selected through total sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires before and after a health education session on depression. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results and Discussion: The study revealed a statistically significant increase in students’ knowledge (p = 0.000) and attitudes (p = 0.001) regarding depression after the intervention. These results indicate that structured health education effectively enhances awareness and fosters a more positive attitude toward mental health issues in adolescents. Limitations include the absence of a control group and short-term evaluation. Research Implications: The findings suggest that integrating mental health topics into school-based health education programs can improve mental health literacy among students, potentially leading to earlier recognition and intervention in cases of adolescent depression. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the growing field of adolescent mental health promotion by demonstrating the practical impact of targeted educational interventions in vocational school settings.