Mental Health Literacy among Employees of a State University: Towards a Proposed Wellness Program

Mental health literacy is considered a prerequisite for the early recognition and treatment of mental health conditions. Assessing this concept is fundamental in identifying knowledge gaps and misconceptions about mental health, as well as in the development and evaluation of interventions to promote it. This study aimed to measure mental health literacy among employees of Tarlac State University and to compare this literacy across different demographic groups. It employed a descriptive-comparative research design, using a researcher-developed Mental Health Literacy Survey to gather data from two hundred and eleven (211) participants. Findings revealed that respondents were knowledgeable across all domains of mental health literacy. Significant influences of respondents’ age, position, education, and training on certain aspects of their mental health literacy were observed, but no significant influence was found based on sex. Specifically, different age groups displayed varying abilities to recognize mental health problems, understand risk factors and causes, and exhibit attitudes that promote appropriate help-seeking behavior. Position within the organization significantly influences attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking behaviors. Educational attainment significantly affected knowledge of risk factors and causes, as well as information-seeking knowledge. Attendance at training related to mental health significantly improved all domains of mental health literacy, except for the ability to recognize mental health problems. Based on these conclusions, the following recommendations are made to strengthen the institution's wellness program: continuation of mental health literacy education, enhancement of the promotion of university mental health services, customized training programs for each demographic group, capacity-building for supervisors and mental health professionals, formation of support and interest groups, establishment of an employee welfare unit and mental health committee, review of working conditions, and provision of facilities dedicated to employee welfare.