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. 2021 Spring;73(2):188-193.
doi: 10.3138/ptc-2019-0036.

Using Mental Health First Aid Training to Improve the Mental Health Literacy of Physiotherapy Students

Susan Edgar  1 , Joanne Connaughton  1
Affiliations

Using Mental Health First Aid Training to Improve the Mental Health Literacy of Physiotherapy Students

Susan Edgar et al. Physiother Can. 2021 Spring.

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training has been proven to improve the literacy of trainees and reduce the stigma they may have toward individuals with mental health problems in the general population. Our research was designed to determine whether MHFA training had an impact on physiotherapy students' attitudes toward psychiatry and mental illness, their confidence to engage with people with mental health problems, and their preparedness for practice. Method: Final-year students from one university who had finished MHFA training completed a questionnaire that included the Attitudes Toward Psychiatry-30 and questions about their perceived confidence in working with people with mental illness and preparedness for practice. Their responses were compared with those from a previous cohort of students at the same point in their university education who had not completed MHFA training. Results: The students who had completed MHFA training (response rate 83%) had a more positive attitude toward psychiatry and mental illness than those who had not (p < 0.001). Their confidence in treating people with mental health problems also increased, and to a statistically significant extent (p < 0.001). Conclusions: MHFA training appeared to improve students' attitudes toward psychiatry and mental health, increase their confidence in treating people with mental health problems, and better prepare them for practice.

Objectif : il est démontré que la formation sur les premiers soins en santé mentale (PSSM) améliore la littératie des apprenants et réduit les préjugés qu’ils peuvent entretenir envers les membres de la population qui ont des troubles de santé mentale. Les chercheurs voulaient déterminer si une formation sur les PSSM avait des répercussions sur l’attitude des étudiants en physiothérapie envers la psychiatrie et la maladie mentale, sur leur confiance à interagir avec des personnes ayant des troubles de santé mentale et sur leur préparation à la pratique. Méthodologie : les étudiants de dernière année d’une université, qui avaient terminé une formation sur les PSSM, ont rempli un questionnaire qui incluait les attitudes envers la psychiatrie-30 et des questions sur leur confiance perçue à travailler avec des personnes ayant une maladie mentale et sur leur préparation à la pratique. Les chercheurs ont comparé les réponses à celles d’une cohorte antérieure d’étudiants lorsqu’ils en étaient au même point dans leurs études universitaires et qui n’avaient pas suivi la formation sur les PSSM. Résultats : les étudiants qui avaient suivi la formation sur les PSSM (taux de réponse de 83 %) avaient une attitude plus positive envers la psychiatrie et la maladie mentale que ceux qui ne l’avaient pas suivie (p < 0,001). Ils se sentaient également plus confiants à traiter les personnes ayant des troubles de santé mentale, et ce, de manière statistiquement significative (p < 0,001). Conclusion : la formation sur les PSSM semblait améliorer les attitudes des étudiants envers la psychiatrie et la santé mentale, accroître leur confiance à traiter les patients ayant des troubles de santé mentale et mieux les préparer à la pratique.

Keywords: first aid; health literacy; mental health; students.

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