ArticleBMC psychiatry2022
The feasibility and effectiveness of a novel online mental health literacy course in supporting university student mental health: a pilot study.
Article in BMC psychiatry, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Investigating the Efficacy of the Web-Based Common Elements Toolbox (COMET) Single-Session Interventions in Improving UK University Student Well-Being: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Evaluating the impact and acceptability of a mental health literacy course for UK university students: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2026Article
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- Depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students in Anhui Province, China: three repeated cross-sectional surveys.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Advancing mental health in university students: future directions in literacy and digital tools.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2025Article
- A Human-Centered Approach for a Student Mental Health and Well-Being Mobile App: Protocol for Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
- Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People Aged 16-25 Years: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Association between mental health and insomnia in young soldiers: a mediation analysis of mental health literacy.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Health literacy and its relationship with mental health and quality of life in freshmen students.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Health literacy and mental health: a national cross-sectional inquiry.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Article
- University Student Mental Health: An Important Window of Opportunity for Prevention and Early Intervention.Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is a need for effective universal approaches to promote and support university student mental health that are scalable and sustainable. In this pilot study we assess the feasibility and acceptability of a fully-digitalized, comprehensive mental health literacy course co-created with and tailored to the needs of undergraduate students. We also explore preliminary associations with mental health and positive behaviour change.
methodsAn accredited online mental health literacy course was developed using state-of-the-art pedagogical principles and a reverse mentorship approach. The course was offered as an interdisciplinary undergraduate elective. Students completed an online survey before and after the 12-week course that collected demographic information and assessed mental health knowledge, emotional self-awareness, mental health, stigma, and health-related behaviors using validated measures. Dependent group t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-course levels of knowledge, mental health, sleep quality and substance use. Mental health outcomes of students who completed the course were compared to an age and sex-matched sample of students not enrolled in the course and who completed the same survey measures over the same academic year. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the effect of course participation on outcomes at follow-up.
resultsThe course had good uptake and was positively reviewed by participants. Specifically, students found the course engaging, relevant, and applicable, and agreed they would recommend it to their peers. Among course participants there was improvement in mental health knowledge (p < 0.001) and emotional self-awareness (p = 0.02) at course completion. Compared to the matched comparison group, taking the course was associated with reduced alcohol (β = - 0.41, p = 0.01) and cannabis use (β = - 0.35, p = 0.03), and improved sleep quality (β = 1.56, p = 0.09) at the end of the term.
conclusionsFindings suggest that delivering mental health literacy as an online accredited course may be an acceptable and effective way of promoting university student mental health through improved knowledge, emotional self-awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices. As the course is expanded to larger and more diverse student cohorts we will be able to further examine the short and long-term effectiveness of the course in supporting student mental health and the underlying mechanisms.
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