A social media–delivered intervention to improve mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes among high school students: a randomized controlled trial

Mental health problems among adolescents are increasing; however, many adolescents lack sufficient mental health literacy and confidence to seek professional help. Social media platforms offer a promising channel for delivering mental health education in culturally relevant and accessible formats. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a social media–delivered intervention based on The Mental Health & High School Curriculum Guide in improving mental health literacy (MHL) and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) among male secondary school students in Ramhormoz, Iran. A total of 204 male students were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which received the program via the Rubika and Eitaa platforms, or a control group that received no intervention. The intervention addressed common mental disorders, help-seeking behaviors, and stigma reduction using culturally relevant storytelling and peer modeling. Mental health literacy and ATSPPH were assessed at baseline, three months, and six months post-intervention using validated Persian instruments. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Students exposed to the intervention demonstrated significantly greater improvements in both MHL and ATSPPH compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The adjusted R2 values were 0.800 for MHL and 0.900 for ATSPPH. No significant differences were observed between the two delivery platforms (Rubika vs. Eitaa). Certain demographic factors, including family size and father’s employment status, were found to influence the outcomes. The social media–based intervention significantly improved mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes among Iranian male high school students. These findings support the effectiveness of culturally sensitive, digital mental health promotion interventions for adolescents, particularly in settings where access to formal mental health services is limited. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), registration number IRCT20230603058372N1 prospectively registered on 2023-06-05.