Mental health literacy in Pakistan: a narrative review
Abstract Purpose – The term ‘‘Mental health literacy’’ is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention. The importance of health literacy for physical health is widely studied; however, the area of mental health literacy in Pakistan...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English English |
| Published: |
Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/81762/1/81762_Mental%20health%20literacy%20in%20Pakistan.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/81762/2/81762_Mental%20health%20literacy%20in%20Pakistan_SCOPUS.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/81762/3/81762_Mental%20health%20literacy%20in%20Pakistan_WOS.pdf http://irep.iium.edu.my/81762/ https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/MHRJ-08-2019-0026/full/html#loginreload https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-08-2019-0026 |
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| Summary: | Abstract
Purpose – The term ‘‘Mental health literacy’’ is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders
which aid their recognition, management or prevention. The importance of health literacy for physical
health is widely studied; however, the area of mental health literacy in Pakistan has been comparatively
neglected. The purpose of this paper is to address the knowledge about mental health in people living in
Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach – Relevant literature relating to mental health literacy was identified
through various database searches. The databases searched included: PubMed, Cochrane database of
Systemic Reviews, PsycINFO using the terms mental health, mental health literacy, mental health
education, Pakistan.
Findings – Literature suggests that there is dearth of knowledge about mental illnesses and their
treatment among public. This review also highlights the importance of mental health literacy among
professionals working in the field of health care. In Pakistan, due to low literacy rate, a high percentage of
poverty and dearth of trained professionals warrants an emendation in approaches established for
attaining the goal of public health and psychiatric care.
Practical implications – Findings have implications for practitioners in the field of mental health care as
well as designing targeted interventions for enhancing mental health literacy and help-seeking behavior
in the future.
Originality/value – A limited understanding and lack of improvement in mental health literacy may
interfere with society’s acceptance of evidence-based mental health care which may hamper the delivery
of adequate mental health services to the needy |
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