Mental health literacy among nurses at community health centers in rural Rwanda

To assess mental health literacy and its association with professional variables among community health center (CHC) nurses.

Mental health problems are highly prevalent in post-conflict countries, but access to treatment is acutely limited. The integration of mental health care into primary healthcare (PHC) is one of the key recommended strategies to scale up access to treatment. However, little is known about PHC nurses' mental health literacy (MHL).

Seventy-four nurses (46 women, 28 men) were recruited from 13 CHCs in the western province of Rwanda. Participants answered a questionnaire about their professional characteristics and MHL, namely, the recognition of mental disorders depicted in clinical vignettes, knowledge of risk factors for mental disorders, and knowledge of helpful people and interventions.

Most participants correctly identified Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (63.5%), followed by depression (60.8%), Somatic Symptom Disorder (51.3%), schizophrenia (51.3%), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (25.7%). The majority of participants correctly recognized the risk factors for mental disorders (e.g., death of a loved one), but a considerable proportion endorsed false causes (e.g., evil possession, weakness of character). Most participants indicated that psychologists/counselors were helpful for all the disorders. Education and in-service mental health training were not associated with MHL.

The mental health literacy of CHC nurses is limited in different ways. Strengthening both academic and continual mental health training programs may enhance nurses' MHL and, consequently, early detection and treatment of mental disorders.