The DNP Collective Model: Enhancing Mental Health Literacy in Metro Detroit.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Public Health
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Mental health disparities persist, necessitating scalable interventions.
• Doctoral nursing education can be enhanced through quality improvement initiatives.
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based program for mental health response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a quality improvement initiative reducing mental health disparities.
• To enhance early intervention skills and strengthen doctoral nursing education.
• To evaluate the DNP Collective mentorship model using MHFA.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement design combined community MHFA dissemination with DNP faculty mentorship.
• Thirteen DNP students delivered MHFA training across Michigan communities (2022-2024).
• Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) surveys assessed changes; paired t-tests and chi-square analyses were used.

Main Results:

• 422 individuals received MHFA training; 224 completed matched surveys.
• Mental health literacy significantly improved (mean MHLS score increase from 130.6 to 137.7, p < .001).
• Underserved populations, including Hmong and immigrant participants, showed the greatest literacy gains.

Conclusions:

• The DNP Collective model improved community mental health literacy and DNP student leadership.
• This scalable model integrates health equity and public health impact into DNP education.
• Nursing-led, culturally responsive interventions are crucial for mental health literacy and stigma reduction.