The Relationship Between Mental Health Literacy and Stigmatization of Mental Illness in Undergraduate Nursing Students: Descriptive Correlational Study

Objective: The objective of the study was to ascertain the correlation between the mental health literacy of student nurses and the stigmatization of mental illness. Material and Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 259 nursing students studying at the faculty of nursing of a university between November 2024-January 2025 who had not yet practiced mental health and psychiatric nursing. Demographic form, Mental Illness Stigma Scale for Healthcare Providers, and Mental Health Literacy Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. In the data analysis, Spearman Correlation test was applied to examine the correlation between the scales. Results: The mean scores of student nurses on Mental Illness Stigma Scale for Healthcare Providers were found to be moderate (X±standard deviation= 52.76±7.29). The mean scores of the Mental Health Literacy Scale of student nurses were high (X±standard deviation= 16.94±3.46). A negative and significant weak relationship was identified between the mental health literacy of student nurses and the stigmatization of mental illnesses (rho: -0.290, p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study found that an increase in the mental health literacy of student nurses was associated with a decrease in the stigmatization of mental illnesses. It is recommended that interventions be implemented with a view to increasing mental health literacy and reducing stigmatization at the undergraduate level.