Effects of a Mental Health Literacy Program for Teachers at a School in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
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Abstract
This quasi-experimental research aimed to compare the mean scores of mental health literacy among secondary school teachers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province before and after participating in the program, as well as to compare the mean scores of mental health literacy after participation between the experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 58 secondary school teachers, divided into an experimental group (30 participants) and a control group (28 participants). The instruments used in the experiment included: 1) an activity program based on Bjorsen's concept, comprising four activities conducted over a two-week period; and 2) a mental health literacy assessment form. Data were collected in October 2024 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including the paired t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that the experimental group had a significantly higher mean score for mental health literacy after participating in the program compared to before participation (p-value < 0.001). Additionally, the experimental group had a significantly higher mean score for mental health literacy than the control group (p-value < 0.001). The program is another approach to enhancing teachers' knowledge and skills, helping them become more confident in supporting and caring for children in schools. Therefore, the Teacher Mental Health Literacy Program should be implemented in activities involving high school teachers in other areas.
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