Development and validation of the mental health literacy among Malaysian population (MyMHL) cross-culturally adapted Malay version of MHLq-SVa and MHLS

Mental health remains taboo in many societies, where stigma often hinders open dialogue and delays support-seeking. Culturally relevant literacy tools is crucial to normalize discussions and encourage early interventions. This study aimed to develop and validate a mental health literacy tool tailored to Malaysia’s multicultural context. The study began with a structured review aligned with Malaysia’s mental health literacy framework. Content and face validity were assessed by six experts and 38 participants using CVI and FVI. Psychometric testing followed in three cycles (May-August 2024) with 500 randomly selected adults proportionally representing ethnicity and locality in Malaysia. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified six factors explaining 71.53% of variance: mental health information knowledge seeking (α = 0.834), attitudes promoting recognition and appropriate help-seeking behaviour (α = 0.914), mental health problems knowledge (α = 0.865), erroneous beliefs and stereotypes (α = 0.831), help-seeking behaviour and first aid skills (α = 0.858), self-help strategies (α = 0.905). Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed acceptable fit, while ICC values above 0.8 confirmed strong reliability. The final 26-item tool demonstrated validity and reliability for Malaysia’s diverse population. This tool offers a culturally sensitive approach to identifying literacy levels, thereby informing targeted interventions and policy initiatives to strengthen early recognition, reduce stigma, and enhance mental health support systems for Malaysia.