Improving Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Among the Hmong.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Interventions
• Community Health

Background:

• Mental illness affects a significant portion of US adults, with unique challenges faced by the Hmong community due to stigma and low mental health literacy.
• Language barriers, cultural beliefs, and differing health concepts impede Hmong individuals from seeking professional mental health services.
• Stigmatization within the Hmong community negatively impacts mental health outcomes and access to care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for Hmong adult church leaders.
• To assess the impact of MHFA on mental health literacy, attitudes towards mental illness, and stigma within this specific population.
• To explore the retention of MHFA skills and utilization of learned strategies in a faith-based community setting.

Main Methods:

• A pretest-posttest design was employed, utilizing the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) and Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness (CAMI) Scale.
• The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model guided the implementation of MHFA training from June to August 2023.
• Participants included over 30 Hmong adult church leaders from three Detroit-based churches, with follow-up surveys at six weeks.

Main Results:

• MHFA training significantly enhanced mental health literacy among participants.
• The intervention led to increased confidence levels and greater mental health awareness.
• Post-training assessments indicated a reduction in stigma associated with mental illness.

Conclusions:

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a successful and implementable intervention for diverse populations, including Hmong adult church leaders.
• The training demonstrated positive effects on mental health literacy and stigma reduction within the Hmong community.
• Further research is recommended to broaden understanding and support for mental health within the Hmong population.