Content area
Full Text
The present study investigated Filipino college students' mental health literacy and mental health using a descriptive cross-sectional design. Five hundred nineteen participants from six Philippine universities took the Mental Health Literacy Scale and the Mental Health Inventory. Descriptive analyses of the data were used to profile the students. Г-tests were conducted to determine differences in our research variables when the participants were grouped according to gender and institution type. Results showed that Filipino college students generally have average mental health literacy scores and below-average scores on the MHI, average Psychological Well-being, and above-average Psychological Distress. We found no significant gender differences. However, students from state universities showed significantly higher mental health literacy scores than those in private universities. In comparison, students from private universities had substantially higher anxiety than those who participated from state universities. This present study's findings may provide relevant information that can serve as a basis for developing and improving school-based mental health services offered in various higher educational institutions in the Philippines.
Keywords: Mental health literacy, student mental health, psychological well-being, psychological distress, Filipino college students
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines "mental health [as] a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community" (2018, para. 2). Adolescents and youth are at risk of experiencing mental health issues and problems (Aldridge & McChesney, 2018; Marques et al., 2011; Twenge, 2015). Global statistics show that around 10-20% of adolescents experience mental health problems that affect their functioning and can cause educational difficulties (WHO, 2020).
Student mental health has gained attention due to the increasing number of students experiencing distress (Kirsh et al., 2015). Universities reported a rising number of students obtaining psychological services and rising severity of students' symptoms (Castillo & Schwartz, 2013; Lipson et al., 2016). University students reported receiving treatment and diagnosis for anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, learning disabilities, and other psychotic disorders (Nami et al., 2014). Community college students reported bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse or addictions, and other more severe mental health concerns (Katz & Davison, 2014). A study involving Turkish students reported that a quarter...