Impact of the BEWARE mental health literacy school program on teachers

Abstract Background Recent studies emphasize the need to promote mental health literacy (MHL). Therefore, our group developed the school program BEWARE to enhance MHL among pupils in grades 5 to 10 in Germany. This study aims to investigate whether the implementation of BEWARE in a school setting influences teachers trained to conduct the program: Does the program impact their MHL and their ability to support pupils with mental health issues? And how do they perceive the program's suitability and effectiveness in the school setting? Methods To test the effectiveness of the BEWARE program, we gather data from participating teachers of five German schools, as well as from teachers not involved (control group) in course of a longitudinal RCT (n = 283 at baseline). MHL and competencies related to supporting pupils with mental health challenges are assessed online at three time points: before and after teacher training and BEWARE lessons, and at a follow-up. Teachers also provide feedback through a paper-and-pencil questionnaire after concluding the lessons. Results Data collection and statistical analyses are ongoing. At baseline, MHLq SVa scores were rather high (knowledge M = 25.25, SD = 2.59; erroneous beliefs M = 14.02, SD = 1.47; first aid and help-seeking M = 12.57, SD = 2.15; self-help M = 16.98, SD = 2.2). Regarding the support of pupils, teachers felt most confident in taking action when noticing signs of mental stress (83% confident) and least confident in recognizing early mental stress (74% not confident) and choosing appropriate help (58% not confident). Conclusions Our preliminary results at baseline suggest that MHL levels seem relatively high, possibly influenced by ceiling effects. More training on recognizing psychological stress and selecting appropriate support for pupils with mental health issues appears necessary. Future results will shed light on the program's impact on teachers and their views on its effectiveness and suitability for the school context. Key messages • We developed the MHL school program BEWARE and are evaluating the effects on teachers. • Our results will offer valuable insights into teachers’ perspectives on the program's effectiveness and its suitability for the school setting.