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

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)

Programa de Primeiros Socorros em Saúde Mental: Estudo piloto

“…Os resultados contribuem para aquilo que tem sido afirmado relativamente ao efeito positivo do programa sobre a LSM dos participantes, não estando distantes dos resultados obtidos nas revisões da literatura, que indicam valores para a eficácia que vão de modestos a elevados (Hadlaczky et al, 2014;Morgan et al, 2018), ainda que as intervenções, sendo de nível IV, usam desenhos de tipo experimental e quase-experimental.…”

“…A evidência produzida acerca da eficácia deste programa é extensa, dado ser um dos programas mais utilizados com o intuito de aumentar a literacia em saúde mental da população. Os resultados de diferentes estudos apresentam bons indicadores em termos de eficácia como indicam as revisões sistemáticas com meta-análise efetuadas (Hadlaczky, Hökby, Mkrtchian, Carli, & Wasserman, 2014;Morgan, Ross, & Reavley, 2018).…”

Mental Health First Aid training: lessons learned from the global spread of a community education program

“…These data have now expanded considerably, with 18 controlled trials in a range of countries. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of these trials showed improvements in mental health first aid knowledge, recognition of mental disorders, beliefs about treatments, confidence in helping, intentions to help and amount of help actually provided. MHFA training also leads to a reduction in stigma.…”

Cultural adaptation of the mental health first aid guidelines for assisting a person at risk of suicide to China: a Delphi expert consensus study

“…MHFA training has been shown to be effective in improving mental health first aid knowledge, the ability to recognise a mental disorder, confidence and intentions to provide mental health first aid, and the amount of help provided [18]. Several studies conducted in Chinese-speaking communities in Hong Kong and Australia have found similar effects [19,20].…”