Mental Health Literacy and Information Needs of Young Adults With First Episode Psychosis and Their Support Persons

First episode psychosis is often poorly recognised at onset despite significant impacts on the young person and their support persons. Higher mental health literacy may improve symptom recognition, access to treatment, and perceptions of recovery. This research evaluated the mental health literacy and information needs of young adults with first episode psychosis and their support persons.

Participants were recruited from a first episode psychosis clinic in Canada and included 57 service users and 43 support persons (N = 100). Data were collected through an online mixed-methods survey. Linear and logistic regressions examined the relationships between treatment duration, outcome, mental health literacy, and information needs. Specific information needs were identified through open-ended questions and reviewed using content analysis.

Both participant groups reported a broad range of mental health literacy and information preferences. Longer treatment involvement significantly predicted greater willingness to seek out information. Higher mental health literacy significantly predicted higher treatment satisfaction among service users and support persons, and lower stress levels among service users. Participants identified additional information needs related to Diagnosis and Recovery, Treatment, and Healthy Functioning; and felt it was important to learn information through Reliable Sources, Group Programming, and Peer Support.

Findings highlight the important role that mental health literacy can play in treatment satisfaction for service users and their support persons, and provide a better understanding of their information needs. These findings have implications for psychoeducation and treatment planning in first episode psychosis.