Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid USA Using the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in the United States with a theoretically based and psychometrically sound measure, the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale (MBLS).

Design: Online MBLS surveys were administered pre-MHFA training, 3-weeks post-training, and 6-months posttraining.

Setting: Mental Health First Aid trainings carried out across the United States.

Participants: Six hundred sixty-two trainees were contacted, and 273 (41%) completed the presurvey. Of those, 63% filled out the postsurvey and 35% completed the 6-month survey. Seventy-six individuals completed all 3 surveys.

Intervention: Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour education program to help the general public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse; to date, almost 1 million people have been trained.

Measure: The MLBS, based on the Unified Theory of Behavior Change framework, consists of attitudinal, social-, and skill-based constructs affecting the intention to perform and achievement of MHFA actions and reports of their actual completion.

Analysis: Change across time points was assessed using multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results: Significant short- and longer term changes were found in internally consistent constructs tapping positive beliefs about MHFA actions, the confidence and intention to perform them as well as mental health literacy.

Conclusion: The MBLS documented strong positive effects of MHFA training that were greater in individuals without prior mental health training, the intended targets of MHFA efforts.

Keywords: attitudes and beliefs; evaluation; intention; mental health first aid; mental health literacy; self-efficacy; stigma; unified theory of behavior change.