%0 Journal Article
%T Preparing for the Classroom: Mental Health Knowledge Improvement, Stigma Reduction and Enhanced Help
%A Amy Heffernan
%A Stan Kutcher
%A Wendy Carr
%A Yifeng Wei
%J Canadian Journal of School Psychology
%@ 2154-3984
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/0829573516688596
%X Mental health literacy is fundamental to improving knowledge about mental health, decreasing stigma, and, therefore, enhancing help-seeking behaviors. The purpose of this cohort study is to evaluate the impact of a mental health literacy program on preservice teachers¡¯ knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking efficacy. Sixty preservice teachers in a Canadian university participated in a professional development day and completed a survey of their mental health knowledge, attitudes toward mental illness, and help-seeking efficacy. Compared with baseline data, results demonstrated significant and substantial improvements on all three outcomes immediately following the session and after 3 months. Provision of mental health literacy education among preservice teachers may be an effective approach to help them better address student mental health needs in their future teaching career
%K mental health literacy
%K preservice teachers
%K teacher education
%K schools
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0829573516688596