Effectiveness of the Mental Health First Aid Programme for general nursing students in Hong Kong: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background Insufficient mental health related knowledge among healthcare professionals and students may lead to higher levels of stigma towards and increased social distance from mentally unwell patients. Moreover, university students enrolled in healthcare programmes are particularly susceptible to stress, depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.

Objective This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Programme for undergraduate general nursing students in improving their mental health literacy, decreasing their social distance from persons with mental health issues, increasing their mental health first-aid intention, and enhancing their confidence in assisting others. The programme was also extended the effectiveness to help students to maintain their own mental wellbeing.

Methods A randomised controlled trial study with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up research design was conducted. Three hundred and fifty-eight students were recruited. The experimental group comprised 182 students, of whom 168 completed MHFA training and a post-test questionnaire in mid-2017, and 167 students completed a follow-up questionnaire early in 2018. Meanwhile, 175 and 165 of the 176 students in the control group completed the post-test and follow-up questionnaires, respectively.

Results The effectiveness of the MHFA programme was supported by the results of repeated measures analysis of variance with Greenhouse-Geisser correction. Significant interaction effects were found in mental health knowledge in recognition of depression (ηp²= 0.17; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.42), recognition of schizophrenia (ηp² = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.47), depression social distance (ηp² = 0.20; 95% CI: −0.41. −0.22), schizophrenia social distance (ηp² = 0.31; 95% CI: −0.58, −0.37), confidence in helping (ηp² = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.11. 0.14), mental first-aid actions (ηp² = 0.08; 95% CI: 1.75, 2.90), and mental wellbeing (ηp² = 0.15; 95% CI: −0.53, −0.19).

Discussion Mental illnesses present substantial challenges to healthcare professionals worldwide. MHFA training should be promoted locally and integrated within compulsory training and extracurricular activities in curricula developed for healthcare and general university students.

Conclusion This study confirms the benefits of MHFA for general nursing students in developing their professional understanding of and willingness to assist people with mental health problems, and in developing, maintaining, and improving their understanding of their own mental health.