Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29851974›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2018

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Mental Health First Aid training: Effects on knowledge, stigma, and helping behaviour.

Amy J Morgan, Anna Ross, Nicola J Reavley

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04982094 (Counting On U), which is not on this map. Cited by 166 papers, 16 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
166citing papers in PubMed, 16 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04982094 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Counting On U: Supporting SME Advisors and Owners Towards Better Mental Health

TypeinterventionalSponsorLeanne SaxonRan2021 to 2023Enrolled1,599ConditionsMental Health Wellness 1ArmsMental Health First Aid and Relationship Building Training, Mental Health First Aid
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

166 citing papers in PubMed, 16 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  10. The Impact of Mental Health Literacy Training Programs on the Mental Health Literacy of University Students: a Systematic Review.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2022
    Pooled it
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  13. Effect of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health: A Narrative Synthesis and Meta-Analysis for the UK.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020
    Pooled it
  14. Mental Health Literacy Intervention on Help-Seeking in Athletes: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020
    Pooled it
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  16. Guideline
  17. Mental health first aid in the workplace: a reflexive thematic analysis of UK workers' experiences.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2026
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  19. Evaluation of theInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
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106 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Amy J MorganCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3784-0540
Anna RossCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Nicola J ReavleyCentre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo provide an up-to-date assessment of the effectiveness of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training program on improving mental health knowledge, stigma and helping behaviour.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsA systematic search of electronic databases was conducted in October 2017 to identify randomised controlled trials or controlled trials of the MHFA program. Eligible trials were in adults, used any comparison condition, and assessed one or more of the following outcomes: mental health first aid knowledge; recognition of mental disorders; treatment knowledge; stigma and social distance; confidence in or intentions to provide mental health first aid; provision of mental health first aid; mental health of trainees or recipients of mental health first aid. Risk of bias was assessed and effect sizes (Cohen's d) were pooled using a random effects model. Separate meta-analyses examined effects at post-training, up to 6 months post-training, and greater than 6 months post-training.

resultsA total of 18 trials (5936 participants) were included. Overall, effects were generally small-to-moderate post-training and up to 6 months later, with effects up to 12-months later unclear. MHFA training led to improved mental health first aid knowledge (ds 0.31-0.72), recognition of mental disorders (ds 0.22-0.52) and beliefs about effective treatments (ds 0.19-0.45). There were also small reductions in stigma (ds 0.08-0.14). Improvements were also observed in confidence in helping a person with a mental health problem (ds 0.21-0.58) and intentions to provide first aid (ds 0.26-0.75). There were small improvements in the amount of help provided to a person with a mental health problem at follow-up (d = 0.23) but changes in the quality of behaviours offered were unclear.

conclusionThis review supports the effectiveness of MHFA training in improving mental health literacy and appropriate support for those with mental health problems up to 6 months after training.

trial registrationPROSPERO (CRD42017060596).

Indexed as

Education, Medical, ContinuingFirst AidHumansMental DisordersMental HealthTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID29851974
PMCPMC5979014

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.